III. The Role of Access and Power in Language Learning
Chapter Goals
- I will be able to…
- …tell the difference between a majority vs majoritized language.
- …tell the difference between a minority vs minoritized language.
- …know the role of power and access in language learning.
- …know about some endangered languages and their revitalization efforts.
Access and power in language learning with examples:
You might wonder, what do access and power have to do with language learning? Well, think about which languages you hear at school, at work, or in the media. Which ones do we have the most access to? Which ones have the most influence in the world? Which languages are never or rarely heard in these spaces? What do we lose when we lose access to languages that are no longer spoken or taught in our contexts?
In this chapter, we will explore how power and access to languages play a huge role in the languages we are learning. There are obviously some languages that are more visible in our societies. In the United States, most people speak English, and many speak Spanish. The historical influence of Great Britain and Spain in the Americas has made these languages most potent and accessible in schools today, not only in the United States but in many places around the world. English and Spanish are among the most taught second languages in schools globally. However, not all languages get the same love and attention.
In this chapter, we will explore the role of power and access in language revitalization, the classroom, heritage languages, and so much more.