In this episode, we discuss the definition, importance of language, and the power it holds over our lives.
We also take a look at some of the direct effects of negative, and discriminatory language policies within the Danish educational sector, and the consequences of said laws on ethnic minorities in Danish society.
Correction:
- One of the criteria for a residential area to be classified as a Ghetto and included on the “ghettolist” is that over 50% (not 30% as mentioned on the episode) of the residents are of non western nationality or heritage.
- The category, non-western heritage, includes descendants of immigrants, which means you can be a Danish citizen, and still be included in the statistics as one of non-western heritage.
Note:
Non-western is a very problematic category/term, which is discriminative in itself and used for discriminatory purposes.
Links
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Jim Cummins, Professor working on language development and literacy development of learners of English as an additional language
Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr.Phil fields of interest: Linguistic human rights, minority education, language and power, links between biodiversity and linguistic diversity, multilingualism, language policy, global (subtractive) spread of English, integration, ethnicity, racisms (including linguicism, linguistically argued racism), gender issues.
Effects of Busing on Test Scores and the Wellbeing of Bilingual Pupils: Resources Matter by Anna Piil Damm, Helena Skyt Nielsen, Elena Mattana and Benedicte Rouland.
Effects of Busing on Test Scores and the Wellbeing of Bilingual Pupils
Policy proposal of the Ghettolaw
Policy proposal of the Ghettolaw
“Stigmatised, marginalised: life inside Denmark’s official ghettos” article in The Guardian by Emma Graham-Harrison and Janus Engel Rasmussen in Copenhagen.
“Stigmatised, marginalised: life inside Denmark’s official ghettos