Multilingual Nations

Chapter 11Bonvillain

India• Enormous linguistic diversity• History- Independence in 1947

– English importance– Country’s official language– Constitution protects the right to linguistic choice

• Standardization– Effects of ‘modernization’

• Linguistic Minorities– Mass communication promotes marginalization of minority

linguistic communities– Circumstances favoring linguistic diversity include:

• Little to no job contacts with dominant language speakers• Low levels of formal education• Tendency for endogamous marriages• Lack of migration to other areas

Canada• English and French are the official languages

(p.314)

• Situational Use– By choosing one language over another, speakers

assert their identity and show their sensitivity to their linguistic rights of others (p.317)

• Attitudes toward languages and speakers– Speech accommodation theory (p.320)

The United States• Language in the U.S. • History– 18thto mid 19th centuries- encouraged but not forced to

speak English by political leaders– Later part of 19th cent. Attitudes changed

• Why? Effects of WWII• Percentage of diversity (Figure 11.2, p.325)– Spanish 28.1 million– Chinese 2million– Freench 1.6 million– German 1.4 million– Tagalo 1.2 million– Vientamese & Italian 1 million– Asian Pacific Isalnd 7 million– Native American 332,000 people

The United States (cont.)

• Puerto Rican Speakers in New York City– Young males may also speak AAVE– Women are more likely to retain Spanish

• Bilingual Education– Transitional- model oriented toward assimilation – 1974 U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision in Lau vs.

Nichols• 20 +children would require bilingual program• Controversy of bilingual education?• Test & Results

Native American Languages• Native Americans have resided in this nation for

centuries- True “Nativism”• Indigenous languages represent diversity• 1990 U.S. Census reported 332,000 speakers (at

home)• The Native American Language Act (p.335)– Encourage Native American language as mediums

for instruction…(p.335)• 1887 Indian Schools- purpose and effects?• Continuity and perseverance of Native

Americans

Key Points

Immigration & the Latino Threat lecture• Anchor babies• Latino Quebec- (sleeping giant analogy)• Media’s biased representations• No historical context• Hate Speech– i.e. American History X

• Multiculturalism