Representations of Spoken Languages Other Than English in an American Television Series:A Case Study of CBS’s Madam Secretary

Abstract

ABSTRACT Representations of bilingualism and foreign cultures on American television merit investigation. This case study examines one fictionalized show focusing on international cooperation. CBS’s Madam Secretary (2014–2019) showcased American diplomats managing international crises. Analyzing all episodes across four seasons, this study examines the representations of spoken languages other than English by quantifying scenes depicting such speech. It found that such scenes were recurrent and highly varied. Within them, violence was absent from most, including scenes with Arabic speakers. Interpreters were rarely depicted. American characters most often spoke languages other English in individual words/phrases. These findings align with a trend of increasing openness to other languages pursuant of “realism,” while bucking a trend to depict Arabs as inevitably villainous. Such depictions both advance and retreat from plurilingualism, or actively promoting the use of multiple languages. This study is novel in examining one cultural product’s representation of bilingualism/ foreign cultures.