Language as a Problem, a Right or a Resource?

Abstract

• Summary: Although many `Anglophone' countries now host significant linguistic diversity, minimal attention has been paid to language policy in social work. This paper examines how language policy in both its overt and covert forms infiltrates social work via three `orientations' to linguistic diversity: language as a problem; language as a right; and language as a resource. The utility of this framework for viewing linguistic diversity in social work is explored with reference to an exploratory study that canvassed the views of overseas-born bilingual social workers practising in Australia. • Findings: The participants strongly identified with a problem orientation to language, where a lack of English constitutes a significant barrier to participating in the social, economic and political domains. While a rights orientation to language was endorsed, it was seen to have limitations in terms of the inadequacies of legislation for challenging `monolingual' language attitudes. All informants supported a resource orientation to language, but claimed that linguistic diversity is often devalued in English-dominant locations. • Applications : Rather than privileging one particular lens on language, the study concludes that a flexible framework that allows for movement between different language orientations is necessary given the context-dependent nature of language use.

Vietnamese ethnic minority students’ language practices under the influence of external interventions: A management perspective

“…The study draws on the participants’ experiences of and perspectives on their language practices in different situations and contexts. The findings are not generalisable, but useful for opening up a new conceptual ground around language practices and language management for further debate (Harrison 2007).…”

Language as resource and challenge among bilingual social workers in the Swedish social services

“…In other words, Anna's language skills could be read as a form of capital with the possibility of being converted into trust between her and her clients. How shared language can make clients feel more comfortable and more quickly developing trust has been recognized in previous research (Engstrom and Min 2004;Harrison 2007a).…”

“…Bilingualism refers to the ability to use at least two languages in a functional way. Harrison (2007a) shows how shared language allows identification between social workers and clients in Australia, but notes that linguistic diversity is generally devalued. Engstrom and Min (2004) discuss how social workers in the US use bilingualism to develop relations with client groups who usually distrust government authority.…”

“…Maria starts out by differentiating herself from her colleagues, based on the fact that she is speaking with an 'accent'. Maria does not adopt a problem-based approach where she constructs her accent as a personal deficit (Harrison 2007a), on the contrary, she views it as an 'advantage'. Her way of equating 'bureaucratic' language with something 'static' furthermore indicates this.…”

Contextual social work and internationalizing social work education: Two sides of the same story?

“…The demand to publish internationally favours scholars who are familiar with English, and essential understandings may be displaced when translated to English. Moreover, it is not obvious that concepts and perspectives developed within an English-speaking context are the most appropriate for understanding issues and challenges in other countries (Harrison, 2007). Askeland and Payne argue that ‘internationalizing social work education creates a Western hegemony in disseminating knowledge’ (Askeland & Payne, 2006, p. 735).…”