"Foreigners", "Ausländer", "Extranjeros"Cultural and linguistic representations

Abstract

The book investigates the European debate on culture and identity by pointing to those uses of language that shape the image and perception of migrants in host societies. The term 'foreigner' is highly sensitive to changes experienced by communities. Its meanings transcend its traditional semantic scope and lead to the discussion of notions such as nation, nationality, immigration, integration, citizenship, nationalism and multiculturalism. The words 'foreigner', 'Ausländer', 'extranjero' and the network of related terms are discussed from a multidisciplinary approach with the aim of identifying the core features of the concept of 'foreignness' in German, Spanish and English.