Open AccessLooking for Children Left Behind: American Language Policies in a Multilingual World
Author(s) -
Suparna Bose
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of literacy, culture, and language education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2642-4002
DOI - 10.14434/ijlcle.v1i0.26832
Subject(s) - pejorative , neuroscience of multilingualism , mainstream , multilingualism , immigration , bilingual education , globalization , political science , sociology , linguistics , psychology , pedagogy , law , philosophy
This article discusses ramifications of the Census 2010 reports, a substantial increase in languageminority populations, and an atmosphere of mistrust towards bilingual and bidialectal people felt by mainstream society in America. It also examines the process of assimilation, immersion, and silencing of immigrant/minority cultures, resulting in the loss of their identity. The pejorative effects of this can be observed in the lower selfesteem, lower grades and continuing school dropout rates of languageminority children today. By looking at models of bilingual or multilingual countries, the article also highlights that lawmakers and communities recognize the cultural histories of bilingual/multilingual learners and acknowledge the benefits of bilingualism. It goes on to recommend ways to increase the marketability of future American citizens, both monolingual and bilingual, in an era of globalization and plurality of the English language.