Language learning, multilingualism and social inclusion

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Language learning, multilingualism and social

inclusion

Ingrid Piller

Zayed University, UAE and Macquarie University, AUS

ingrid.piller@zu.ac.ae

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Australians at Work: Hien Tran’s story

Source ::// . . . / /331/http dl screenaustralia gov au module

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Outline

1. The Social Inclusion agenda2. Language and social exclusion: Early

developments 3. Language proficiency and social

exclusion: Australian case-study1. English proficiency and access to the primary

labor market2. Misrecognition of labor market segregation as

language and culture-related

4. Implications for the field

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Outline

1. The Social Inclusion agenda2. Language and social exclusion: Early

developments 3. Language proficiency and social

exclusion: Australian case-study1. English proficiency and access to the primary

labor market2. Misrecognition of labor market segregation as

language and culture-related

4. Implications for the field

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What is Social Exclusion?

1. “a long and healthy life” as measured by life expectancy

2. “access to knowledge” as measured by the adult literacy rate and gross enrolment ratio in primary, secondary and tertiary education

3. “a decent standard of living” as measured by GDP

(Source: Human Development Indices: A statistical update 2008 (2008). New York: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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Outline

1. The Social Inclusion agenda2. Language and social exclusion: Early

developments 3. Language proficiency and social

exclusion: Australian case-study1. English proficiency and access to the primary

labor market2. Misrecognition of labor market segregation as

language and culture-related

4. Implications for the field

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Early developments

• Bilingualism as an obstacle to social inclusion

• The monolingual bias of institutions produces social exclusion

• Proficiency in the language of the destination country is the most important predictor of immigrant earning potential

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Outline

1. The Social Inclusion agenda2. Language and social exclusion: Early

developments 3. Language proficiency and social

exclusion: Australian case-study1. English proficiency and access to the primary

labor market2. Misrecognition of labor market segregation as

language and culture-related

4. Implications for the field

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English spoken very well

English spoken well

English not spoken well

English not spoken

Employed 802,000 743,000 274,000 *28,000

Unemployed 60,000 71,000 14,000 **8,000

Not in the labour force

209,000 387,000 376,000 113,000

Unemployment rate

7.0 8.7 **4.9 **23.1

Participation rate

80.5 67.8 43.4 **24.2

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Recent Migrants. November 2007, p. 31

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“[T]hose from non-English speaking backgrounds struggle to find gainful employment within Australia and are often underemployed, even when they have relative proficiency in the language [...].” (p. 21f.)

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“NESB employees with degrees and post-graduate qualifications also receive 8% and 14% lower pay respectively than similarly qualified Australian-born employees […].” (p. 29)

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The language barrier seems to be the single most important reason: the ‘original obstacle’ that hampers all aspects of social inclusion.” (Colic-Peisker, 2005, p. 632)

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“I have tried to apply for many jobs in that field of fitter and turner but the requirements are with the English. They have to be like high standard of English…and this is the difficulty I have had in the past. I’ve been to (over 20) interviews with different companies regarding a job but I haven’t been successful and I think the main problem would have been the English. ” (p. 29)

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Fitter and turner: job specificationDuties: A mechanical engineering tradesperson may perform the

following tasks:• examine detailed drawings or specifications to find out job, material

and equipment requirements • set up and adjust metalworking machines and equipment • operate machines to produce parts or tools by turning, boring,

milling, planing, shaping, slotting, grinding or drilling metal stock or components

• fit and assemble metal parts, tools or sub-assemblies, including welding or brazing parts

• cut, thread, bend and install hydraulic and pneumatic pipes and lines

• dismantle faulty tools and assemblies and repair or replace defective parts

• set up and/or operate hand and machine tools, welding equipment or computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines

• check accuracy and quality of finished parts, tools or sub-assemblies.

(Source: http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au)/

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Fitter and turner: job specificationPersonal requirements:

• enjoy technical work • physically fit • good hand-eye coordination • able to work as part of a team • able to work independently • practical ability • attention to detail • normal hearing • no skin allergies

(Source: http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au)/

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(Source: Booth, A., Leigh, A., & Varganova, E. (2009). Does Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Vary Across Minority Groups? Evidence From Three Experiments. Australian Policy Online. Retrieved from http://apo.org.au/node/17347)

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(2006)

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(2006)

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The argument so far

• Lack of linguistic proficiency is an obvious obstacle to social inclusion, which the Australian state tries to overcome– Provision of language training in the AMEP– Multilingual provision

• Linguistic discrimination has become a substitute for White racism (see also Hill 2008)

• Linguistic discrimination reinforces labor market segmentation

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Occupational segregation of NESB migrants

In this context, racism is not simply an irrational prejudice, but a basis for rational, economically advantageous behaviour of employers: it keeps certain ‘marked’ groups out of the mainstream labour market and good jobs and thus ensures that undesirable job vacancies are filled.(Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, 2006: 221)

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Misrecognition of language and culture

[T]he current allocation of certain ethnic groups and immigrant categories in certain industries and types of jobs in the secondary labour market does not necessarily reflect their specific skills or levels of human capital, but rather reflects […] structural marginalization and disadvantage.(Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, 2006: 222)

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Australians at Work: Hien Tran’s story

Source ::// . . . / /331/http dl screenaustralia gov au module

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Outline

1. The Social Inclusion agenda2. Language and social exclusion: Early

developments 3. Language proficiency and social

exclusion: Australian case-study1. English proficiency and access to the primary

labor market2. Misrecognition of labor market segregation as

language and culture-related

4. Implications for the field

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Are we asking the wrong questions?

Or: when (linguistics) research becomes another instance of

banal nationalism

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To speak of the language, without further specification, as linguists do, is tacitly to accept the official definition of the official language of a political unit.(Bourdieu 1991: 45)

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Linguistic and cultural ways of seeing diversity

• Render people and their differential linguistic capital invisible

• Render inequalities, discrimination and socio-economic exclusion invisible

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When all you have is a hammer, all problems start to look like nails (Mark Twain)

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One of the most important challenges facing modern societies, and at the same time one of our most significant opportunities, is the increase in ethnic and social heterogeneity in virtually all advanced countries. The most certain prediction that we can make about almost any modern society is that it will be more diverse a generation from now than it is today.(Putnam 2007: 137)

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Language learning, multilingualism and social

inclusion

Ingrid Piller

Zayed University, UAE and Macquarie University, AUS

ingrid.piller@zu.ac.ae