Critical and Posthumanist Applied Linguistics

Abstract

This chapter is in the form of responses to five questions sent by the editors concerning Posthumanist Applied Linguistics (PENNYCOOK, 2018), its central themes, relations to critical applied linguistics and so on. I have tried to respond as clearly as possible to these questions and to explain how I understand posthumanism and why I think it can be politically, theoretically and practically an important part of any critical applied linguistic project. This paper was written as the coronavirus pandemic was gripping the world, giving us particular reason to reflect on humanity, the non-human, politics and pessimism. We can hope that by the time people are reading this paper, this particular threat will have eased, though the broader political concerns facing us-the rise of neoliberal and xenophobic populism with its destructive instincts towards both people and the planet-will doubtless still be with us.