language-attitudes

Vocabulary Word

Definition

Language attitudes are beliefs or emotions people have towards different languages, dialects, or ways of speaking, and can be influenced by social, cultural or personal factors.

Examples in Different Contexts

In sociolinguistics, 'language attitudes' refer to people's feelings and opinions about different languages or dialects. A sociolinguist might observe, 'Our study shows that language attitudes can significantly influence a person's willingness to learn a new language.'

Practice Scenarios

Academics

Scenario:

Our latest linguistics research will focus on how differing accents can influence the perceived competence of a speaker. This will give us insights on how accents can play a significant role in social dynamics.

Response:

Apart from accents, it would also be interesting to explore how different language attitudes shape the perceived authenticity of a speaker.

Leadership

Scenario:

We want our team members to feel appreciated and respected, irrespective of their linguistic backgrounds. So it's necessary to have an inclusive language policy.

Response:

Yes, addressing language attitudes in our company culture will not only promote respect for diversity, but also foster workplace collaboration.