Multilingual Nations Chapter 11 Bonvillain India Enormous linguistic

Multilingual Nations Chapter 11 Bonvillain

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 – 18 thto mid 19 th centuries- encouraged but not forced to speak English by political leaders – Later part of 19 th cent. Attitudes changed • Why? Effects of WWII • Percentage of diversity (Figure 11. 2, p. 325) – – – – Spanish 28. 1 million Chinese 2 million 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