Being Silenced: Language Beliefs and Experiences of Finnish Language Teachers in Sweden

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Negotiating Language Ideologies in Linguistically Diverse Settings: Global Perspectives (Table 14)

Abstract

In many countries, like in Sweden, the official status of minority languages has become stronger in recent years. However, little is known about language beliefs of the minority language teachers, or about their experiences as minority language speakers. In this study, we analyze the quantitative and qualitative data gained from 37 teachers. The results indicate that the respondents had positive language beliefs promoting additive multilingualism. However, many had experienced restrictions concerning the use of Finnish language. Thus, although a language might have an official status in one country, the everyday encounters contradict this status and more work needs to be done in promoting linguistic rights of minority speakers and maintenance and revitalization of minority languages.

Authors

• Jenni Alisaari, Stockholm University

• Jarmo Lainio, Stockholm University