ABSTRACT
What competence do translinguals bring to help them achieve successful communication in the global contact zones? Communication in these contexts requires a competence for plural language norms and mobile semiotic resources. As there is no homogeneous norm available for preconstructed meanings in the contact zone, competence requires suitable negotiation strategies and reciprocal practices. Traditional models based on predefined grammatical constructs are unable to explain the complexity of translingual communication. In this chapter, we will discuss what kind of competence accounts for this communicative practice, and how translinguals develop it.
