I joined Stirling as a Lecturer in Linguistics in 2023. Prior to this I was a Senior Research Officer in the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex.
My research interests relate to language policy in multilingual contexts. I am interested in how language policies can either inhibit or enable access and engagement with services and institutions, and how we can develop more equitable and inclusive approaches to language policy.
There are two main strands to my research: multilingualism and education; multilingualism and the labour market. I am interested in perceptions towards the value of language and multilingualism and have conducted research on these issues in Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
I am also interested in collaborative research, and researching multilingually, and most of my research is conducted as part of international, interdisciplinary teams.
Multilingual markets: Investigating language skills for informal employment in Malawi
PI: Dr Colin Reilly
Funded by: The British Academy
–
Linguistic injustices and inequality in the public domain
PI: Dr Colin Reilly
Funded by: The British Academy
–
Article
Deconstructing boundaries and building translanguaging spaces for effective multilingual learning
Reilly C, Gibson H, Costley T & Kula N (2025) Deconstructing boundaries and building translanguaging spaces for effective multilingual learning. NORRAG Special Issue, (11), pp. 24-27. https://resources.norrageducation.org/resource/922/multilingualism-and-language-transition-innovations-and-possibilities
Book Chapter
Chetty R, Gibson H & Reilly C (2024) Decolonising Methodologies Through Collaboration: Reflections on Partnerships and Funding Flows from Working Between the South and the North. In: Hudley AHC, Mallinson C & Bucholtz M (eds.) Decolonizing Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/decolonizing-linguistics-9780197755259?cc=gb&lang=en&#
Editorial
New perspectives on morphosyntactic change in African youth language practices
Gibson H, Hollington A, Nassenstein N & Reilly C (2024) New perspectives on morphosyntactic change in African youth language practices. Linguistics Vanguard.
Teaching Resource
Costley T, Gibson H, Kula N, Mapunda G & Reilly C (2024) Wingi lugha darasani. Futurum.
Teaching Resource
Kukubali kutumia zaidi ya lugha moja darasani
Costley T, Gibson H, Kula N, Mapunda G & Reilly C (2024) Kukubali kutumia zaidi ya lugha moja darasani. Futurum.
Teaching Resource
Multilingualism in the classroom
Costley T, Gibson H, Kula N, Mapunda G & Reilly C (2024) Multilingualism in the classroom. Futurum.
Teaching Resource
Embracing multilingualism in the classroom
Costley T, Gibson H, Kula N, Mapunda G & Reilly C (2024) Embracing multilingualism in the classroom. Futurum.
Book Chapter
Reilly C, Costley T, Gibson H & Kula N (2024) Teacher creativity in navigating multilingual classrooms: negotiating policy and practice in Botswana, Tanzania, and Zambia.. In: Multilingualism and Multiculturalism: Language Teaching and Learning. Leiden: Brill.
Book Chapter
Bringing the outside in: attitudes towards multilingual competence in Zambia and Tanzania
Reilly C, Gibson H, Kula N, Costley T, Mapunda G & Mwansa J (2024) Bringing the outside in: attitudes towards multilingual competence in Zambia and Tanzania. In: Learning Languages, Being Social.
Article
Rethinking language: The need for language supportive pedagogies within teacher training in Tanzania
Gibson H, Mapunda G, Reilly C, Costley T & Kula N (2024) Rethinking language: The need for language supportive pedagogies within teacher training in Tanzania. Nordic Journal of African Studies.
Article
Reilly C, Costley T, Gibson H & Kula NC (2024) The multilingual university: language ideology, hidden policies and language practices in Malawian universities. Language, Culture and Curriculum. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2024.2303686
Book Chapter
Vignette: Changing language-in-education policies in Malawi - Consultation and implementation
Reilly C, Chavula JJ, Kamtukule V & Chetty R (2023) Vignette: Changing language-in-education policies in Malawi - Consultation and implementation. In: Multilingual Learning: Assessment, Ideologies and Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003311553
Authored Book
Multilingual Learning: Assessment, Ideologies and Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2023) Multilingual Learning: Assessment, Ideologies and Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reilly C (Editor), Chimbutane F (Editor), Clegg J (Editor), Rubagumya C (Editor) & Erling EJ (Editor). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003311553
Article
Language and employment in Ghana: capturing the multilingual reality
Reilly C, Scandurra R, ResCue E, Hermannsson K & Gayton A (2023) Language and employment in Ghana: capturing the multilingual reality. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 44 (9), pp. 807-826. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2023.2195853
Teaching Resource
Now You’re Talking My Language Multilingualism and translanguaging in classrooms in Ghana and Malawi
Reilly C, ResCue E & Chavula J (2023) Now You’re Talking My Language Multilingualism and translanguaging in classrooms in Ghana and Malawi. [Online PDF] English & Media Centre.
Article
Wildsmith-Cromarty R, Reilly C & Kamdem S (2023) Investigating the opportunities and challenges for African languages in public spaces: an introduction. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 44 (9), pp. 765-772. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2023.2222105
Article
Reilly C, Costley T, Gibson H, Kula N, Bagwasi MM, Dikosha D, Mmolao P, Mwansa JM, Mwandia M, Mapunda G & James E (2023) Emerging principles for researching multilingually in linguistic ethnography: reflections from Botswana, Tanzania, the UK and Zambia [Ukulondolola imisango yakufwailisha ukupitila mu ndimi ishapusanapusana: Amatontonkanyo ukufuma ku Botswana, ku Tanzania, ku UK na ku Zambia]. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 44 (8), pp. 689-701. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2023.2194864
Other
Rethinking Multilingualism: Education, Policy and Practice in Africa
Gibson H (Editor) & Reilly C (Editor) (2022) Rethinking Multilingualism: Education, Policy and Practice in Africa. Journal of the British Academy, 10 (Supplementary issue 4).
Article
Language policy in Ghana and Malawi: differing approaches to multilingualism in education
Reilly C, ResCue E & Chavula JJ (2022) Language policy in Ghana and Malawi: differing approaches to multilingualism in education. Journal of the British Academy, 10s4, pp. 69-95. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/010s4.069
Article
Reilly C, Bagwasi MM, Costley T, Gibson H, Kula NC, Mapunda G & Mwansa J (2022) 'Languages don't have bones, so you can just break them': rethinking multilingualism in education policy and practice in Africa. Journal of the British Academy, 10 (s4), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/010s4.001
Edited Book
Multilingual Learning and Language Supportive Pedagogies in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2021) Multilingual Learning and Language Supportive Pedagogies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Routledge Series in Language and Content Integrated Teaching & Plurilingual Education. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Multilingual-Learning-and-Language-Supportive-Pedagogies-in-Sub-Saharan/Erling-Clegg-Rubagumya-Reilly/p/book/9780367677527
Book Chapter
Malawian universities as translanguaging spaces
Reilly C (2021) Malawian universities as translanguaging spaces. In: Paulsrud B, Tian Z & Toth J (eds.) English-Medium Instruction and Translanguaging. Bilingual Education & Bilingualism. Bristol: Multilingual Matters, pp. 29-42. https://www.multilingual-matters.com/page/detail/EnglishMedium-Instruction-and-Translanguaging/?k=9781788927314
Article
Methodological Principles for Researching Multilingually: Reflections on Linguistic Ethnography
Costley T & Reilly C (2021) Methodological Principles for Researching Multilingually: Reflections on Linguistic Ethnography. TESOL Quarterly, 55 (3), pp. 1035-1047. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.3037
Article
Attitudes towards English as a Medium of Instruction in Malawian Universities
Reilly C (2019) Attitudes towards English as a Medium of Instruction in Malawian Universities. English Academy Review, 36 (1), pp. 32-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/10131752.2019.1582150
LINU911 Language and Society
LINPP04 Sociolinguistics: Varieties of English
LINPP07 Linguistic Structures
LINPP10 Dissertation Preparation and Research Training
LINPP13 Language Policy and Practices in Multilingual Contexts
