Linguistic Inequality

There are a considerable number of studies that analyze the benefits of language(s) in the labor market. It is a sensitive topic because of its relevance for language maintenance, and therefore, for the selective acculturation of immigrants in host societies. In this paper, the effect of non-English language fluency on the occupational attainment of immigrants and natives is analyzed, both in terms of occupational wages and socio-economic status. Results indicate that there is no advantage associated with non-English language fluency, either for natives or immigrants. Rather, a penalty for the specific case of Spanish fluency among immigrants was found. Three explanations from previous literature regarding the benefits of bilingualism in the labor market – human capital, devaluation and discrimination— are discussed in relation to the obtained results. The paper concludes with some recommendations about the recognition of language diversity in the labor market and policies aimed at the integrative acculturation of immigrants.

""Relationships between language and inequality are a constitutive part of contemporary sociolinguistic theory which, despite certain specialized discussions and controversies, has developed a well-established set of theoretical assumptions. Our aim in this paper is to introduce an overview of these as well as to point out some emerging new perspectives on the issue of linguistic inequality.

After a short introduction to critical sociolinguistics, I will analyze the shift from ‘diversity discourse’, which can be traced back to the mid-1980s in the USA, towards a new global focus on inequality, which emerged around the end of the 1990s. In the second place, we will describe some theoretical aspects of the concept of ‘linguistic inequality’ following current sociolinguistic bibliography on the matter, with special interest in globalization processes and the relationships of individuals with the state. In the third place, we review recent literature on new dimensions of linguistic inequality, with a special focus on (a) relationships between local and global language varieties; (b) multilingual practices and civil rights; and (c) multilingualism in educational settings.

In the final section of this paper, we encourage the continuity of the research on new dimensions of linguistic inequality as a way of empowering linguistic minorities whose access to basic civil rights is impeded by asymmetrical language relationships.""

This article analyzes narratives of the Malvinas war by a group of
Argentine non-recognized veterans. Our aim is to understand the
discursive conditions of their situation, which leaves them in an
unequal position with respect to other veterans. Analysis will
show that their stories are shaped in a way which is not
compatible with the hegemonic narratives about war, thus
receiving an unequal legal treatment.