Authors: Gabriela Meier & Simone Smala
This talk makes visible the complex linkages between language and social cohesion dimensions, and the fundamental role education plays as a site where the interrelationships between languages and social cohesion are negotiated. A systematic review of literature at the crossroads of sociology, social psychology and applied linguistics, among other disciplines (Meier & Smala, 2022), resulted in insights relevant for social contexts – including education – in which decision makers and researchers grapple with questions of social cohesion in the presence of linguistic diversity. The findings, based on a thematic analysis of 285 peer-reviewed articles from 50 countries, establish language repertoires as tools that facilitate social networks and access to resources. Furthermore, language norms and allegiances were found to subjectively shape the way groups use their language resources, which can result in social inclusion, exclusion and/or mediation between language groups.
Our talk is aimed at readers who may have specific educational contexts in mind, where hierarchies, tensions and conflicts between language communities might exist or be suspected, and where an interlinked language and social cohesion lens, such as the one we propose, may offer a theory-informed and accessible way of exploring the powers that may be at play in such situations, so that appropriate and context-sensitive action can follow. In order to support such endeavours, we offer concrete tools
1) A systematic analysis, unpacking and restructuring 285 relevant articles into 6 lenses through which the interlinkages between languages and social cohesion can be explored: contextual, distributional, ideational, emotional, behavioural and organisational. Illustrated in Fig. 5.1, p. 104.
2) An Endnote Library (Meier, Smala & Lawson, 2021, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/ydtms99mjm/3), including a thematically structured and downloadable bibliography, which can serve as a source of information for policymakers, researchers and practitioners.
3) A list of thematically sorted and accessible questions (table 5.1, p. 113) that serve as starting points for further transdisciplinary explorations, e.g. by educationists, policy makers, researchers.
This may enable stakeholders to better support respectful and meaningful collaboration in situations where groups with multiple languages and diverse viewpoints do not simply coexist but come together to negotiate their differences and identify shared goals in the interest of the common good.
References:
Meier, G. & Smala, S. (2022). Languages and Social Cohesion: A Transdisciplinary Literature Review. Routledge. Advances in Sociology
Meier, G., Smala, S., & Lawson, H. (2021). Languages and Social Cohesion: A transdisciplinary literature review (Dataset)", Mendeley Data, Vol. 3, doi: 10.17632/ydtms99mjm.3. [download EndNote Library from: https://data. mendeley.com/datasets/ydtms99mjm/3]
