Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Editor and Book Reviews Editor: John Edwards (St Francis Xavier University, Canada)
|
Volume: 23 Number: 5 Page: 353–370
|
|
|
|
|
Who Supports the English-Only Movement?: Evidence for Misconceptions about Latino Group Vitality
|
|
Valerie Barker and Howard Giles
|
|
The considerable growth in language minority populations in the US in recent years has been matched by an increase in language policies encapsulated by the English-only movement. Using vitality theory as
a framework, this study investigated if support for English-only policies among Anglo-Americans is related to perceptions about growing Latino group vitality (salience in the population, social institutions,
and increased power/status) and the presence of Spanish in the linguistic landscape. The study examined these issues by conducting a telephone survey (n = 389) in Santa Barbara, California. As predicted,
Anglo-Americans' perceptions of growing Latino vitality together with decreasing Anglo vitality, and a strong within group language identity, were related to support for English-only policies and (to a
lesser extent) social limitations on immigrants. Contrary to expectations, less contact with Spanish in the linguistic landscape was associated with greater support for English-only policies. Older participants
were much more likely to support English-only policies, while those with a higher level of education were less likely to support such policies.
© Multilingual Matters 2002
Full text PDF
|
