• DOI:10.1515/ijsl.1979.20.23
• Corpus ID: 143763214

Language and Ethnolinguistic Identity: The Bilingualism Question

@inproceedings{Lamy1979LanguageAE,
  title={Language and Ethnolinguistic Identity: The Bilingualism Question},
  author={Paul G. Lamy},
  year={1979}
}

• P. Lamy
• Published 1979
• Sociology

Until quite recently, research on bilingualism, ethnolinguistic identity and ethnic attitudes was based on clinical, experimental or participant observations, studies. The need for larger, representative samples and the use of multivariate analysis was evident. Even in the late sixties, the complaint was voiced that 'their are no surveys to aid in formulating the generalizations' (Diebold 1968:236). Actually, since the mid-sixties, suitable data have become available for Canada, Belgium, South Africa, Switzerland and Wales. Several large-scale studies have been conducted in the Soviet Union, though the analysis of this data has remained relatively unsophisticated. These data hold the key to an issue of both theoretical and substantive importance does bilingualism in itself have an impact upon ethnic identity and ethnic attitudes? This question has been debated by scholars throughout the world for some time (cf. Diebold 1968; Lamy 1976; Weinreich 1968). With regard to the effects of bilingualism on group identification, 'the most active interest in this question was displayed by German scholars of the Hitler era, who were preoccupied with the assimilation and "transethnization" (Umvolkung) of Volkdeutsche (ethnic Germans)' (Weinreich 1968:117). More recently, both Canadian and Soviet social scientists have taken an active interest in this topic; Lambert (1967:91) argues that 'the whole process of becoming bilingual can be expected to involve major conflicts of values' and Gubogio (1974:99) claims that 'bilingualism helps to overcome ethnic prejudices'. While there are sound theoretical reasons for anticipating that there would be a relationship between bilingualism and ethnolinguistic identity, such findings can be couched within several competing theoretical orientations.