Beyond Place: Youth Belonging and Language in the Third Space

Abstract Place and place attachment have emerged as key concepts in the study of belonging within the field of youth studies in the last few decades. Yet these are limited lenses through which to understand the practices and experiences of youth belonging. In this article, I conceptually examine the possibility of belonging for young Australians navigating their everyday lives between cultures and languages, especially in circumstances where their connection to place is contested. I argue that this is an important task as Australia continues to globalise, as its society continues to diversify, and as a vast array of languages other than English continue to be practised in private and public spaces. Furthermore, I argue that research in youth studies must go beyond place-based conceptualisations of belonging to include the role of language in belonging, and to understand young people’s ways of being and belonging in the third space between cultures and languages. Ultimately, I propose that space should continue to be a serious consideration in youth studies and youth lives, and for there to be an emphasis on the role of language in the processes of negotiating identity and belonging.