return
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GC: n

S: UNHCR – https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-protect/returnees, https://www.unhcr.org/news/unhcr-forced-displacement-continues-grow-conflicts-escalate (last access: 7 December 2023); IOM – https://www.iom.int/return-and-reintegration (last access: 15 December 2023).

N: 1. Early 14c., returnen, “to come back, come or go back to a former position” (intransitive), from Old French retorner, retourner“turn back, turn round, return” (Modern French retourner), from re-“back” + torner “to turn”). Also, in part from Medieval Latin retornare, returnare.

The transitive sense of “report officially, give an official statement or account” (in answer to a writ or demand) is from early 15c.; “to send (someone or something) back” is by mid-15c.; that of “to turn back” is from c. 1500. Meaning “to give in repayment or recompense” is from 1590s; that of “give back, restore” is from c. 1600.

2. The act or process of going back or being taken back to the point of departure. This could be within the territorial boundaries of a country, as in the case of returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) and demobilized combatants, or between a country of destination or transit and a country of origin, as in the case of migrant workers, refugees or asylum seekers.

3. Several subcategories of return describe the various ways in which the return is implemented:

  • Voluntary return: The assisted or independent return to the country of origin, transit, or another country based on the voluntary decision of the returnee.
  • Assisted voluntary return: Administrative, logistical, or financial support, including reintegration assistance to migrants unable or unwilling to remain in the host country or country of transit and who decide to return to their country of origin.
  • Spontaneous return: The voluntary, independent return of a migrant or a group of migrants to their country of origin, usually without the support of States or other international or national assistance.
  • Forced return: The act of returning an individual, against his or her will, to the country of origin, transit, or to a third country that agrees to receive the person, generally carried out on the basis of an administrative or judicial act or decision.

4. Repatriation is as well another subcategory that describes who is participating in the return. The IOM defines the term “repatriation” as “the personal right of a prisoner of war, civil detainee, refugee, or civilian to return to his or her country of nationality under specific conditions laid down in various international instruments.”

5. Collocations:

  • Adj: complete, full a full return to health | gradual | imminent | brief | emotional, happy | dramatic.
  • Verb + return: make| mark | await, wait for | greet | celebrate | delay, put off | demand | call for, push for, vote for.
  • Return + noun: address, date.
  • in return (for) She gave them all the help she could and asked for nothing in return. | on sb’s return He promised to visit us on his return. | return from The date of their return from India is a fortnight from now. | return to Jones is hoping for an early return to racing after her injury. 
  • Phrases: by return (of post) All orders will be dispatched by return of post (= by the next post).

6. Cultural interrelation: We can mention the book The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between (2017) by Hisham Matar.

S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=return (last access: 7 December 2023). 2. IOM – https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml_34_glossary.pdf (last access: 7 December 2023). 3. IOM – https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml_34_glossary.pdf (last access: 7 December 2023). 4. IOM – https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml_34_glossary.pdf (last access: 7 December 2023). 5. OCD – https://www.freecollocation.com/search?word=return#google_vignette (last access: 7 December 2023). 6. Amazon – https://www.amazon.es/Return-Hisham-Matar/dp/0241966280/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_ES=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=128AHK3AORK90&keywords=The+Return%3A+Fathers%2C+Sons+and+the+Land+In+Between&qid=1701971388&s=books&sprefix=the+return+fathers+sons+and+the+land+in+between%2Cstripbo (last access: 7 December 2023).

SYN:
S:

CR: asylum, deportation, expatriation, expulsion, extradition, humanitarian aid, immigration, refugee, repatriated person, schemes to assist repatriation.