9.3 Language attitudes and ideologies in bilingual societies

Language attitudes shape how people feel about different languages and dialects. From loyalty to insecurity, these attitudes influence social interactions and language use. People may change their speech to fit in or stand out, affecting language evolution over time.

Language ideologies are beliefs about how language should be used. These ideas impact policies and education. Some push for language "purity" or a single standard, while others link language to national identity. These views can lead to discrimination or conflict.

Language Attitudes

Emotional Connections to Language

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• Language loyalty manifests as strong attachment to one's native language or dialect
• Individuals with language loyalty resist linguistic changes and language shift
• Linguistic insecurity emerges when speakers feel their language variety is inferior
• People experiencing linguistic insecurity may attempt to modify their speech patterns
• Language stereotypes associate specific linguistic features with social groups
• These stereotypes can lead to discrimination and prejudice (accent-based hiring biases)

Adaptive Language Behaviors

• Linguistic accommodation involves adjusting speech to match conversation partners
• Speakers may converge their language to build rapport or diverge to assert identity
• Accommodation can occur at various linguistic levels (pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar)
• Over time, accommodation can lead to language change within communities
• Factors influencing accommodation include social status, power dynamics, and context

Language Ideologies

Beliefs About Language Purity and Standards

• Language ideology encompasses beliefs and attitudes about language use and structure
• These ideologies shape language policies, education, and social interactions
• Linguistic purism advocates for preserving a language's perceived "pure" form
• Purists often resist loanwords and neologisms (Académie Française regulating French)
• Standard language ideology promotes a single "correct" version of a language
• This ideology can marginalize non-standard dialects and their speakers
• Standardization processes involve codification of grammar, spelling, and pronunciation

Nationalistic Language Perspectives

• Linguistic nationalism links language to national identity and unity
• Nations may promote a single national language at the expense of minority languages
• Language can become a symbol of national pride and cultural distinctiveness
• Linguistic nationalism has influenced language policies in many countries (Quebec's French language laws)
• This ideology can lead to language-based discrimination and conflict
• Some nations adopt multilingual policies to balance nationalist and inclusive approaches

Societal Factors

Community Language Vitality

• Ethnolinguistic vitality measures a language community's ability to maintain its identity
• Factors affecting vitality include demographic strength, institutional support, and status
• High vitality languages are more likely to survive and thrive in multilingual contexts
• Low vitality can lead to language shift or loss within a community
• Revitalization efforts aim to increase the vitality of endangered languages
• Strategies for increasing vitality include education programs and media representation

Legal and Policy Considerations

• Language rights encompass the legal protections and privileges afforded to language users
• These rights can include access to education, government services, and media in one's language
• International bodies like the UN have established frameworks for language rights
• Implementation of language rights varies widely between countries and regions
• Challenges in enforcing language rights include resource allocation and political will
• Balancing majority and minority language rights remains a complex issue in many societies