Coping With Stigmatized Linguistic Identities: Identity and Ethnolinguistic Vitality Among Andalusians

Abstract

This study was an investigation of the impact of language stigma for identity functioning among speakers of Andalusian Spanish. Fifteen Andalusian Spaniards were interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze the data guided by identity process theory and the ethnolinguistic vitality framework. The following themes are outlined: (a) threatened linguistic identity and vitality (re)constructions; (b) relocating the sociopsychological value in one's linguistic variety; and (c) multiple linguistic identities: threat and management. This article elucidates how perceived threats to ethnolinguistic vitality can induce identity threat. Weak social status may jeopardize self-esteem, while weak institutional support may threaten self-efficacy. The belonging principle may be vulnerable to threat in contexts in which the stigmatized group has minority status. Relevant sociolinguistic concepts are discussed in relation to the intrapsychic level of identity functioning. Potential strategies for coping are discussed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Data were collected when the first author was based at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Sections of this article were presented at the British Psychological Society Social Psychology Section Annual Conference in September 2010 at the University of Winchester, United Kingdom. The authors thank Richard Bourhis and Catherine Amiot for lively intellectual discussions that led to this article.