The native speaker concept

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The concept of the "native speaker" is often seen as an ideal language user with complete and possibly innate competence, tied to a fixed speech community and nation-state. Despite challenges to its accuracy and utility, this notion remains prevalent. The focus shifts from second language acquisition and teaching practices to daily interactions within broader sociocultural and political contexts marked by global movements and multilingualism. Using an ethnographic approach, the volume critically examines the political implications of claiming or not claiming "native speaker" status in everyday life, exploring how this ideology intersects with various relations of dominance and standardization regimes. It presents case studies from diverse settings, including classrooms in Japan, a coffee shop in Barcelona, secondary schools in South Africa, and more, illustrating the complexity of language use. Additionally, it traces the genealogy of the "native speaker" concept from the Roman Empire. By integrating linguistic, anthropological, and educational theories, the volume contributes to the analysis of language use, policy, and teaching, while also investigating the broader effects of language ideology on power dynamics and institutional practices.