As multilingualism becomes increasingly prevalent in global contexts, issues of linguistic discrimination, linguistic (in)justice, and empowerment are of critical importance.
Our SSHRC project will 1) investigate linguistic discrimination in English-speaking higher education (HE), 2) empower plurilingual students, those who speak two or more languages (often minoritized), and 3) develop a new quantitative tool for researching linguistic discrimination in HE. Linguistic discrimination is the unfair treatment based on language, often stemming from stereotypes about linguistic and cultural groups or lack of knowledge of plurilingual individuals' language use (e.g., a Mandarin-speaking student may be denied access to a professor's lab team due to perceptions of poor English skills, despite their high proficiency in English). We will conduct our project in three large English-speaking universities---one each in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia (the three hubs). These countries are known for their increasing linguistic minority populations of immigrant, refugee, international, and Indigenous students in HE, and policies promoting multiculturalism but falling short in addressing the critical issues of linguistic justice in HE. Linguistic justice is the equitable treatment and recognition of all languages, ensuring that students have the right to use their language in HE without facing discrimination or marginalization. Despite growing commitments to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in HE in these countries, linguistic discrimination remains largely overlooked, with plurilingual students facing mental health issues, suicidal tendencies, linguistic oppression, and challenges navigating HE environments that prioritize English monolingual and monocultural norms.
PrincipaI Investigator: Dr. Angelica Galante, McGill University
Co-PI: Dr. Mi Yang Park, University of Auckland; Dr. Ruth Fielding, Monash University
Research Assistants: Ben Calman, Miguel Sanchez Luna, and Yunjia Xie
