Language, multiculturalism and identity: A Canadian study

Abstract

After providing some historical background concerning nationalism, ethnicity and the link between language and group identity, this study attempted to gather views of this latter linkage, in a Canadian context — one in which there are two charter languages and an official policy of multiculturalism. The 401 respondents to a survey questionnaire were comprised of university students and faculty members, and townspeople. Biographical information was collected as well as data about language abilities, ethnic self‐descriptions, languages in the Canadian setting, multiculturalism and, of course, the relationship between original group language and continuing group identity. Three of the main findings were that there was much variability in ethnic self‐descriptions; that there was some suggestion that the language‐identity link may, indeed, not be essential for continuing identity; and that there was support for multiculturalism, for knowledge of both French and English in Canada, and for diversity in general — although this support may be largely of a passive nature. The results of this study are related to previous work, and suggestions for further work — particularly on the topics of language‐identity linkages, and perceptions of diversity and multiculturalism — are made.

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