What's in a Language? Language as a Core Value of Minorities in Israel

Abstract

This paper explores the core values of three minority groups in Israeli society: Israeli Arabs, immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and immigrants from Ethiopia. Analysis of memoirs collected from members of these three groups reveals that language functions as a core value in all of them, but on different grounds. Israeli Arabs focus on language as representing their national identity and their objection to the hegemony of Hebrew; immigrants from the FSU emphasise language in terms of literacy and as paving the way to the treasures of their culture; and participants from the Ethiopian group focus on language as a means of communication, allowing them to maintain values they consider more central—family relations and respect for their elders. The discussion of the findings takes into account the uniqueness of the Israeli context and combines socio-cultural and linguistic perspectives.

Keywords:

• Core Values
• Immigrants
• Israel
• Language
• Minorities

Notes

1. The questionaires were subsequently re-translated into the language of origin to minimise the possibility of translation having changed their meaning.

2. An interesting aspect of the penetration of Hebrew into the Arabic routine is linguistic landscape, with Hebrew, alongside Arabic signs, both public and private, in various Arab towns and cities; see Ben-Rafael et al. (2006).

3. For more on this point, see Sherif and Sherif (1953); Tibon and Blumberg (1999).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michal Tannenbaum

Michal Tannenbaum is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, Tel Aviv University