Date of Award

Spring 5-31-2025

Document Type

Honors Project

University Scholars Director

Dr. Joshua Tom

First Advisor/Committee Member

Prof. Bonnie Henson

Keywords

minority languages, language diversity, linguistics, united states, immigrant communities

Abstract

The increasing development of language diglossia between global English and local languages around the world raises questions of how the American linguistic character will react. In a culture defined by its lack of ethnolinguistic definition, can language localization occur? A study of language development in America requires a historical assessment of language contact, discourse, and dominance. The present state of American English is not the natural result or authentic representation of America’s population, but the outcome of language restrictionism and resource disparity enforced on many ethnolinguistic groups throughout American history. In the modern era of intensified immigration, ethnolinguistic diversity is still unquestionably present within the United States; however, current linguistic policies and ideologies reject and criminalize its existence. In younger generations, where heritage languages could continue and language diversity could easily flourish, minority language use is directly diminished for replacement by English. English has been imposed onto the American people and remains hegemonically enforced today. In order for linguistic diversity to prosper in a nation with endless cross-cultural encounters, minority language speakers must feel not only safe speaking their native languages but that there is capital to be gained in doing so. Likewise, native English speakers must not have the most to gain by remaining ignorantly monolingual but instead realize that America is extensively multilingual and, in order to fully participate in American society, they must learn how to communicate with others through coordination and equality.

Comments

A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Scholars Honors Program.

Copyright Status

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Additional Rights Information

Copyright held by author.

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