Is Diversity in Spoken Language Valued or Devalued? 15/09/15

Is Diversity in Spoken Language Valued or Devalued?

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/18/census-2011-england-wales-diversity-languages-map     Last accessed 15/09/15

The article in the Guardian concerning the 2011 consensus about the diversity of languages in England and Wales shows us that despite English being the language spoken most commonly, there are a large variety of other languages spoken. The article describes how there is “data on almost 100 verbally spoken languages with 4.1m people reporting a main language other than English (or Welsh if they lived in Wales)”. This shows there are a large range of people who speak diversely to Standard English which suggests diversity in spoken language is valued as there are many people who speak another language who could offer support to other people in the same position. Furthermore, the article tells us that “in London alone, just over 690,000 people considered a European language which wasn’t of British origin as their main language” and describes London as a “global city” which shows that people who speak other languages are mixing with only English speaking people; therefore, the English language is being influenced by other languages as people who speak something other than English are integrating with only English speaking people in major cities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29206260       Last accessed 15/09/15

This BBC article describes how many Australian migrants find jobs hard to find due to language blocks. A Chinese migrant explains how “language is the first priority to mix with the locals” so he went to school to learn English. However, the article goes on to explain how a lot of the time being able to speak English still isn’t enough for migrants to find work and there is “prejudice” against people from non-English speaking backgrounds. An expert admits in the article that “often people who have got names such as Mohammed or Abdul are not even getting that opportunity of being interviewed”. This shows that in Australia diversity in spoken language is devalued and many peple from a non-English speaking background are discriminated.

https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/work-poverty-ethnicity-and-workplace-cultures        Last accessed 15/09/15

This article describes how many low paid workers are from ethnic minorities. It explains how nowadays there is more demand for workers with higher skills but workers from ethnic backgrounds have a less chance of getting the opportunity to develop higher skills as “Power imbalances between managers and low-paid workers shape daily interactions in which some workers were recognised and included, while others are marginalised”. The article describes how even when people from non-English speaking backgrounds have got jobs, they still find limitations to their opportunities.