Dr Julia de Bres staff profile picture

Contact details +64 (06) 356 9099

Dr Julia de Bres BA, GDip, PhD

Senior Lecturer

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Humanities Media and Creative Comm

I am a critical sociolinguist specialising in how language is used in the reproduction of social inequality, as well as how minority groups discursively resist imbalances of power. I analyse interview and interactional discourse in contexts including workplaces, government policy, advertising, news and social media, politics, and visual culture. I teach courses in sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and multilingualism.

Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts with honours - Victoria University (2001)
  • Graduate Diploma - Victoria University (2005)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - Victoria University (2008)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Sociolinguistics

Discourse analysis

Minority languages

Language and minorities 

Multilingualism

Language ideologies

Language policies

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Cultural Studies (200200): Culture, Gender, Sexuality (200205): Discourse and Pragmatics (200403): Globalisation and Culture (200206): Language in Culture and Society (Sociolinguistics) (200405): Languages, Communication And Culture (200000): Linguistics (200400): Maori Cultural Studies (200207): Migrant Cultural Studies (200208): Multicultural, Intercultural and Cross-cultural Studies (200209)

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 1 2

Current Projects

Project Title: It takes a village: Picturing family support for transgender young people in Aotearoa

This research explores transgender young people’s experiences of positive family support in Aotearoa. Family support is protective for transgender youth but we lack evidence of what it looks like for young people of diverse cultures. Our project diversifies research on this topic, extending it from parents to young people themselves and their broader family, from monocultural majority to ethnically diverse participants, and from trauma to resilience. Our gender and culturally diverse team will interview twelve transgender young people (3 Māori, 3 Pasifika, 3 Asian, and 3 Pākehā) and five each of their most valued supporters. We will use the innovative method of reflective drawing, asking participants to draw and discuss their experiences of family support. Our visual and verbal discourse analysis will paint a picture of how families successfully support transgender youth, drawing on perspectives of gender diversity and family in Māori, Pasifika, Asian and Pākehā communities. This will be the first discourse-based research in this area, advancing knowledge in transgender studies, family studies and language and gender. It will explore how young people and their families challenge oppressive social structures through discourse and provide insights for those seeking to be part of the village that raises a transgender child.
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Date Range: 2023 - 2026

Funding Bodies: Royal Society of New Zealand; Marsden Fund - Full

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

de Bres, J., & Morrison-Young, I. (2024). Intersectional perspectives of parents of transgender children in Aotearoa (New Zealand). International Journal of Transgender Health.
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J., & Morrison-Young, I. (2024). A world of light, or hurt? Māori metaphors in response to non-Māori use of te reo Māori. Te Reo. 66(2), 10-10
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J., & Morrison-Young, I. (2023). Storm Clouds and Rainbows: Visual Metaphors of Parents of Transgender Children in Aotearoa (New Zealand). LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 19(5), 382-404
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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1
de Bres, J. (2022). Research on Parents of Gender-Diverse Children: From Pathologization to Affirmation. LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 18(2), 135-150
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J., & Dawson, S. (2021). Saint Ashley: gendered discourses in the commodification of New Zealand’s Director General of Health during Covid-19. Gender and Language. 15(2), 129-157 Retrieved from https://journal.equinoxpub.com/GL/article/view/18687
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J., & Lovrits, V. (2021). Monolingual cringe and ideologies of English: Anglophone migrants to Luxembourg draw their experiences in a multilingual society. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development.
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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7
de Bres, J., & Nicholas, SA. (2021). The sexiest accent in the world: Linguistic insecurity and prejudice in media coverage of the New Zealand accent. Te Reo. 64(1), 15-32 Retrieved from https://nzlingsoc.org/journal_article/the-sexiest-accent-in-the-world-linguistic-insecurity-and-prejudice-in-media-coverage-of-the-new-zealand-accent/
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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Franziskus, A., & de Bres, J. (2017). Interactive and ideological dimensions of receptive multilingualism in Luxembourg workplaces. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice. 15(1), 24-45
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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Lovrits, V., & de Bres, J. (2021). Prestigious language, pigeonholed speakers: Stances towards the ‘native English speaker’ in a multilingual European institution. Journal of Sociolinguistics. 25(3), 398-417
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J., Rivera Cosme, G., & Remesch, A. (2020). Walking the tightrope of linguistic nationalism in a multilingual state: constructing language in political party programmes in Luxembourg. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 41(9), 779-793
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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1
Roger, G., & de Bres, J. (2017). Languages Of France and the European charter for regional or minority languages: A critical inventory of arguments against ratification (2014-2015)]. Sociolinguistic Studies. 11(1), 131-152
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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5
de Bres, J. (2015). The hierarchy of minority languages in New Zealand. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 36(7), 677-693
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J., & Belling, L. (2015). Free Your Stuff Luxembourg! Language policies, practices and ideologies in a multilingual Facebook group. Language Policy. 14(4), 357-375
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J. (2015). Introduction: Language policies on social network sites. Language Policy. 14(4), 309-314
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J. (2014). European Multilingualism-Current Perspectives and Challenges. LANGUAGE POLICY. 13(3), 283-285
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J., & Franziskus, A. (2014). Multilingual practices of university students and changing forms of multilingualism in Luxembourg. International Journal of Multilingualism. 11(1), 62-75
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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13
De Bres, J. (2014). Competing language ideologies about societal multilingualism among cross-border workers in Luxembourg. International Journal of the Sociology of Language. (227), 119-137
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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16
Belling, L., & de Bres, J. (2014). Digital superdiversity in Luxembourg: The role of Luxembourgish in a multilingual Facebook group. Discourse, Context and Media. 4-5, 74-86
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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Wille, C., de Bres, J., & Franziskus, A. (2012). Interkulturelle Arbeitswelten in Luxemburg. Mehrsprachigkeit und kulturelle Vielfalt am Arbeitsplatz von Grenzgängern. Interculture Journal. 11(17), 73-90
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2011). A review of research on the attitudes of non-Māori New Zealanders towards the Māori language. New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics. 17(2), 5-19
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2011). Promoting the Māori language to non-Māori: Evaluating the New Zealand government's approach. Language Policy. 10(4), 361-376
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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de Bres, J. (2010). Attitudes of non-Māori New Zealanders towards the use of Māori in New Zealand English. New Zealand English Journal. 24, 1-13
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2010). Promoting a minority language to majority language speakers: Television advertising about the Māori language targeting non-Māori New Zealanders. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 31(6), 515-529
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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1
De Bres, J., Holmes, J., Marra, M., & Vine, B. (2010). Humour and the māori language in the workplace. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication. 20(1), 46-68
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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6
de Bres, J. (2009). The behaviours of non-Māori New Zealanders towards the Māori language. Te Reo. 52, 17-45
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
De Bres, J. (2009). Language in the workplace project and workplace communication for skilled migrants course at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Language Teaching. 42(4), 519-524
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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2
de Bres, J. (2008). Planning for tolerability in New Zealand, Wales and Catalonia. Current Issues in Language Planning. 9(4), 464-482
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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20
de Bres, J. (2007). Using workplaces to research attitudes and behaviours towards the Māori language in Wellington. Wellington Working Papers in Linguistics. 19, 65-82
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2006). Māori lexical items in the mainstream television news in New Zealand. New Zealand English Journal. 20, 17-34
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2004). Intergenerational attitudes towards Dutch language maintenance across three periods of arrival in New Zealand. Wellington Working Papers in Linguistics. 16, 1-20
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2000). The experience of French people living in New Zealand. The European Connection. , 9-14
[Journal article]Authored by: de Bres, J.

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Book

de Bres, J., & Holmes, J. (2023). Ethnicity and humour in the workplace. In M. Handford, & JP. Gee (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis. (pp. 582 - 594). London: Routledge
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
De Bres, J., & Franziskus, A. (2019). Language ideologies in conflict at the workplace. In The Routledge Handbook of Language in Conflict. (pp. 433 - 447).
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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3
de Bres, J. (2017). Singing is the first thing that came into my head: Emotions and language maintenance among Filipino migrants in New Zealand. In M. Marra, & P. Warren (Eds.) Linguist at Work. Festschrift for Janet Holmes. (pp. 137 - 158). : VUW Press
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2016). Multilingual advertising and regionalisation in Luxembourg. In C. Wille, R. Reckinger, S. Kmec, & M. Hesse (Eds.) Spaces and Identities in Border Regions. Politics – Media – Subjects. Bielefeld: Transcript
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
Franziskus, A., & de Bres, J. (2013). ‘I learnt English – the wrong thing, eh’ – power, interests and language practices among cross-border workers in Luxembourg. In H. Koff, P. Gilles, & C. Schulz (Eds.) Theorising Borders through Analyses of Power Relationships. Switzerland: Peter Lang
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.

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Holmes, J., & De Bres, J. (2013). Ethnicity and humour in the workplace. In The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis. (pp. 494 - 508).
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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4
de Bres, J. (2013). Language ideologies for constructing inclusion and exclusion: identity and interest in the metalinguistic discourse of cross-border workers in Luxembourg. In P. Studer, & J. Nekvapil (Eds.) Ideological Conceptualisations of Language: Discourses of Linguistic Diversity. (pp. 57 - 83). Frankfurt: Peter Lang
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
Franziskus, A., & de Bres, J. (2012). Les pratiques linguistiques des frontaliers au Luxembourg: focalisation sur leur utilisation du luxembourgeois. In R. Belkacem, & I. Pigeron-Piroth (Eds.) Le travail frontalier au sein de la Grande Région Saar-Lor-Lux: pratiques, enjeux et perspectives. (pp. 129 - 149). Lorraine: Presses Universitaires de Lorraine
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J., & Franziskus, A. (2012). Grensarbeiders, meertaligheid en het gebruik van Luxemburgs op het werk in Luxembourg. In J. Degadt, M. se Metsenaere, M. de Vlieger, R. Janssens, A. Mares, & C. van Wynsberghe (Eds.) De Internationalisering van de Vlaamse Rand Rond Brussel. (pp. 234 - 257).
[Chapter]Authored by: de Bres, J.

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Report

de Bres, J., & Morrison-Young, I. (2022). Storm Clouds and Rainbows: The Journey of Parenting a Transgender Child. Rainbow Support Collective.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: de Bres, J.
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Other

Wille, C., de Bres, J., & Franziskus, A. (2015). Intercultural work environments in Luxembourg. Multilingualism and cultural diversity among cross-border workers at the workplace.
[Working Paper]Authored by: de Bres, J.
Franziskus, A., & de Bres, J. (2015). Language profiles and practices of cross-border workers in Luxembourg. : University of Luxembourg
[Working Paper]Authored by: de Bres, J.
de Bres, J. (2015). Multilingualism in advertising and a shifting balance of languages in Luxembourg.
[Working Paper]Authored by: de Bres, J.

Consultancy and Languages

Languages

  • English
    Last used: 2019
    Spoken ability: Excellent
    Written ability: Excellent
  • French
    Last used: 2019
    Spoken ability: Excellent
    Written ability: Excellent
  • Luxembourgish
    Last used: 2019
    Spoken ability: Average
    Written ability: Average
  • Italian
    Last used: 2019
    Spoken ability: Average
    Written ability: Average
  • German
    Last used: 2019
    Spoken ability: Needs work
    Written ability: Needs work

Media and Links

Media

  • 31 Jan 2024 - Radio
    Why do we put on accents?
    Radio interview on RNZ Nights
  • 28 Sep 2022 - Radio
    Dutch migrants in New Zealand
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 28 Feb 2024 - Radio
    oThe language of thanks
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 28 Feb 2022 - Newspaper
    Reactions to the government's use of 'bro'
    Opinion piece
  • 27 Jul 2021 - Radio
    Language and Disability
    Interview on RNZ Nights
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  • 26 Jul 2022 - Radio
    How we talk about twins
    Interview
  • 26 Apr 2022 - Radio
    Terms of address
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 24 Mar 2022 - Newspaper
    What (not) to say when your kid comes out to you
    Opinion piece
  • 24 Feb 2023 - Newspaper
    Semantic bleaching and the hijacking of ‘woke’
    Opinion piece
  • 23 Sep 2020 - Online
    Linguistics Lounge podcast
    A monthly podcast about linguistics and discourse analysis that I host with Tony Fisher
  • 22 Mar 2023 - Newspaper, Online
    Giving trans kids a sporting chance
    Opinion piece
  • 22 Feb 2022 - Radio
    Language and the five senses
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 21 Dec 2021 - Radio
    Parenting gender-diverse kids
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 19 Feb 2021 - Newspaper
    Putting our pronouns in email signatures
    Opinion piece
  • 18 May 2021 - Radio
    Regional differences in the Kiwi accent
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 17 May 2023 - Radio
    Secret languages
    Radio interview
  • 15 Sep 2020 - Newspaper
    Changing place names
    Opinion piece
  • 15 Jun 2023 - Newspaper
    What linguistics does for Aotearoa
    Opinion piece
  • 15 Feb 2021 - Newspaper
    Including pronouns in email signatures
    Interview for news article
  • 14 Oct 2020 - Radio
    Linguistics and our love of Ashley Bloomfield
    Interview on Radio NZ Nights
  • 14 Nov 2023 - Radio
    How cats communicate with humans
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 14 Dec 2022 - Newspaper
    How it really feels to raise a transgender child
    Opinion piece
  • 14 Dec 2022 - Newspaper
    What it’s really like to parent a trans child
    Opinion piece
  • 11 May 2021 - Online
    How more inclusive language could improve Aotearoa
    Podcast episode and article for Spinoff/Massey Conversations That Count/Ngā Kōrero Whai Take podcast series
  • 09 Mar 2021 - Radio
    Attitudes towards the New Zealand accent
    Interview on Radio NZ Nights
  • 09 Apr 2021 - Online
    The battle for gender inclusive language in health
    Opinion piece
  • 08 Jul 2020 - Newspaper
    Gender diverse language something to celebrate
    Opinion piece
  • 07 Sep 2021 - Newspaper
    Stop framing the Auckland terrorist as a refugee
    Opinion piece (written with Emily Greenbank)
  • 07 Jun 2022 - Newspaper
    How grandparents can best support trans kids
    Opinion piece
  • 07 Feb 2023 - Radio
    Semantic bleaching of the word 'woke'
    Radio interview
  • 07 Apr 2023 - Newspaper
    The long shadow cast by the Posie Parker show
    Opinion piece
  • 06 Sep 2023 - Radio
    How politicians get us to like them linguistically
    Radio interview
  • 06 Jul 2021 - Newspaper
    What correcting others pronunciation says about us
    Opinion piece
  • 05 Oct 2021 - Radio
    Te reo Māori in the media
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 04 Apr 2023 - Radio
    Why do we swear?
    Interview on RNZ Nights
  • 01 Jun 2020 - Online
    High Rising Terminal Facebook page
    I run this Facebook page, which is aimed at linguistics students and linguistics enthusiasts across New Zealand. Posts on the page include media articles relevant to linguistics, profiles of Massey li
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