his repertoire was seen as indicative ofor-igins, defined within stable and static (“national”) spaces, andnot of biographical trajectories that develop in actual historiesand topographies. The question as to which (particular andsingle) language Joseph “spoke” was one that led to statementsabout where he was born, about where his origins lie. Thefact is, however, that someone’s linguistic repertoire reflectsalife, not just birth, a life that is lived in a real sociocultural,historical, and political space.
In this quote, the author discusses how the language one speaks can disqualify someone, based on almost no evidence. Within the "national spaces", Joseph was judged based on the language he spoke and where his origins lie which is unjust. Josephs sociolinguistic profile was not considered "normal" in the Home Office.