Psychological Determinants of Linguistic Purism: National Identification, Conservatism, and Attitudes to Loanwords

Abstract

Aversion to loanwords may express itself in various ways: deliberate and motivated by ideology of linguistic purism or more implicit and motivated by the strength of one's national identification and ethnolinguistic vitality. A study of Polish philology students assessed their tendency to choose loanwords versus synonymous native words. The results supported a two-path model of linguistic purism. Social identity (strength of identification) directly predicted avoidance of loanwords, whereas ideological concerns (conservative political views) predicted it indirectly, through purist ideology.Some individuals treat loanwords as a factor enriching lexicon of a language, others as a necessary evil, still others as a threat that can and should be combatted. These evaluations run along a scale between extreme liberalism and extreme purism, with both liberals and purists frequently voicing their views in emotional ways. This applies not only to discussions among nonspecialists but also to the stances adopted by linguists (Mańczak, 1970;Nieckula, 1987).Studies more descriptive than evaluative in nature consider purism as a historical and cultural phenomenon, seeing its causes as lying in the social and political situation

Modelling beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours regarding the spread of English

“…In addition, the interview data suggested that English borrowings were regarded as polluting the Korean language. Previous research on loanwords has also found that the spread of English had provoked linguistic purism among the local-language speakers based on nationalism and conservatism (Hansen et al, 2018; Koscielecki, 2006). Hansen et al (2018) reported that the regression paths from national identification and conservative beliefs to purist linguistic attitudes to behavioural intentions to borrow foreign words were significant.…”

“…Previous research on loanwords has also found that the spread of English had provoked linguistic purism among the local-language speakers based on nationalism and conservatism (Hansen et al, 2018; Koscielecki, 2006). Hansen et al (2018) reported that the regression paths from national identification and conservative beliefs to purist linguistic attitudes to behavioural intentions to borrow foreign words were significant. Thus, a potential factor affecting the low path coefficient between attitude and behavioural intention with respect to the use of ENBs is the Korean young adults’ purist attitude as a mediating variable between an overall attitude and behavioural intention.…”

“…We also recommend the use of the well established TPB model to investigate the sequential paths from speakers’ beliefs and attitudes to their behavioural intentions. In addition, the TPB model may be extended by adding purist attitude as an independent determinant of behavioural intention (Han & Kim, 2010; Hansen et al, 2018).…”

Anglicisms in Ladin: Loanwords and Local Perceptions

“…Lingua franca, as utilised here, suggests that a language is popular for communicating across diverse language groups (Komori-Glatz, 2018; Meyerhoff, 2011). Nevertheless, public sentiment toward external influence on their language, such as through word borrowing, can range from general acceptance to outright rejection (Hansen et al, 2018; Kowner and Rosenhouse, 2008). Those that ascribe to the latter group may seek to preserve and protect their mother tongue by constructing barriers to limit change.…”

Reactions of Arab-Palestinians in Israel Toward an In-group Member Mixing Hebrew or English With Arabic

“…The perceived need to protect the linguistic vitality of the group and shield it against language mixing may also be related to identification with the in-group (e.g., Roccas et al, 2006). In a recent study on Polish philology students, Hansen et al (2018) showed that participants’ levels of national identification predicted their preference for native Polish words over synonymous loan words from foreign languages.…”