Achieving 'Unmarkedness' in Organisational Discourse: A Praxis Perspective on Ethnolinguistic Identity

Abstract

An ethnomethodological approach to ethnolinguistic identity is presented using the linguistic concept of 'markedness' as a heuristic innovation to explore the dynamics of ethnolinguistic minorities in work settings. A matrix is proposed that consists of a marked/unmarked boundary and a high/low power boundary. Four propositions relating to crossing the boundaries are advanced, and illustrative evidence supporting each proposition is developed in a discourse analysis of talk in a large hotel work site. The paper concludes that a more praxisoriented perspective on ethnolinguistic identity can enrich understanding of the three concepts embedded in that term ethnicity, language, and identity.

Texas Czech folk music and ethnic identity

“…The origins of Czech immigration to Texas (Distribution of birthplaces of Czech immigrots to Texas in Janak l99l: l14) Despite the interest in the study of ethnic identity in the contemporary fields of antbropology and social science (e.g., Banks and Gay 1978;Barkan 1995a;Barkan 1995b;Bank 1996), a fairly small body of research has explored language and ethnicity Írmong speakers of dyrng languages in US immigrant communities (e.g., Banks 1988;Dow ed., 1,99L;Haugen 1969;Fishman 1989Fishman , l99lU 1991bFishman et al eds., 1966;Peltz 1998: 173-204).u Language and ethnicity maintenance in Native American communities has been subjected to greater scrutiny (e.g., Fitzgerald 1974;Foster L99l;Harrod 1995;Kroskrity 1993). Insofar as language canbe viewed as an esse,ntial part of speakers'identities @renzingerandDimmendaall992),weneedto fullyunderstandhow people think of themselves "in relation to one another and to their changing world," and how what they think is "encoded and mediated through language" (Kulick 1992:9).…”

Social identities and language alternation in non-formal institutional bilingual talk: Trilingual service encounters in Barcelona

“…We have also adopted a "praxis perspective" (Banks 1988) on social identity, known as Membership Categorization Analysis, which sees social identity in the practical acts it occasions. A third important concept in our discussion has been language preference.…”

“…Because of the association between social identities and social activities, in practical social action, social identities are said to be consequential (Schegloff 1991(Schegloff , 1992. According to Banks 1988, "Identity is what it does in interaction. "…”

“…We have adopted an organizational perspective whereby language alternation is seen as consisting of various medium-related activities: medium selection, medium repair, and medium suspension. We have also adopted a "praxis perspective" (Banks 1988) on social identity, known as Membership Categorization Analysis, which sees social identity in the practical acts it occasions. A third important concept in our discussion has been language preference.…”

Propuesta para el desarrollo de las competencias interculturales de los futuros graduados

“…Del mismo modo, hay casos en que las personas se enfrentan a presiones para desetnizar su discurso frente a la mayoría cultural (Banks, 1987), como sucede con la segunda y tercera generación que asimilan de tal manera la lengua dominante, que su habla suena idéntica a la misma (Giles y Bourhis, 1976). Algunos argumentan que la identidad étnica y el lenguaje están tan vinculados que "la pérdida del lenguaje étnico puede conducir al suicidio cultural" (Giles y Franklin-Stokes, 1995, p. 118), mientras que otros cuestionan esta correlación entre el lenguaje e identidad, afirmando que la pérdida de la primera no necesariamente ocurre a expensas de la otra.…”