Welcome to the Centre for Multilingualism
Our aims are
- To conduct interdisciplinary research on multilingualism.
- To integrate research into teaching.
- To provide training and support to young researchers.
- To transfer research outcomes to professionals within the education and health sectors and to provide advice to families.
New policy paper: Lloyd-Smith, Bergmann, Sapir, Yasar, Kupisch: Why Language Matters: Inequality Perceptions among the Sámi in Sweden and Norway
Every two weeks, one of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages dies. Yet what are the consequences of having to give up one’s native language?
Anika Lloyd-Smith, Fabian Bergmann, Yair Sapir, Rusen Yasar, Tanja Kupisch (2023): Why Language Matters: Inequality Perceptions among the Sámi in Sweden and Norway
Abstract:
Every two weeks, one of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages dies. Yet what are the consequences of having to give up one’s native language? Speakers of minority languages worldwide face barriers to using their languages outside their homes, often with negative consequences for educational and economic success. A new survey of the Indigenous Sámi in Sweden and Norway suggests that language policies are key to perceptions of inequality. Speakers of the Sámi languages have lower perceptions of their societal standing than Sámi who have given up the language. Combined with insights from an in-depth study on Sámi language education, our findings suggest that policies should facilitate language maintenance in linguistic minorities. Supporting these languages may help to reduce feelings of discrimination.