unit5-7 readings

how was a new sign language created in Nicaragua, what special role did children play in the development of the language?

• deaf children = brought in new schools, combined “home signs” into shared system

• younger children added grammar + structure, turned Nicaraguan Sign Language

Does English kill other languages?

English spreads into high-status areas, which can push smaller languages out of those important spaces

Does English make things fair?

• advertised as “the language of opportunity” but strong English education is usually only available to the privileged

• English can act like a gatekeeper that widens class gaps instead of closing them

Does English erase cultures?

often carries business norms and media that overshadow local traditions

what advantages may be gained from multinational companies adopting English as their corporate language?

• one common working language = faster global coordination

• knowledge sharing becomes standard

• talent can move more easily

• stronger single corporate identity

what are some challenges to successful English policies?

• loss of confidence for non-native speakers

• power imbalance

• productivity drop during rollout

• cultural pushback

how can companies most successfully introduce an English language policy?

• explain a reason as business needs, not cultural superiority

• give real support and time

• set realistic expectations

what was the importance of Lau vs. Nichols and what triggered it?

made it clear that equal access to education requires language support, and it pushed U.S. schools to create services for English learners instead of ignoring them

what is meant by the term “an emblematic use of Spanish”?

using little bits of Spanish mainly to signal ethnic identity

how do generations 1/2/3 use Spanish in different ways/amounts when they interact with their parents?

Spanish use steadily declines from 1/2/3, especially in sibling-sibling interactions

what kinds of attitude do most Hispanics have towards Spanish and its maintenance?

• most Hispanics express positive attitude toward Spanish

• attitude doesn’t stop shift toard English dominance

what attitudes seem to be held toward English among the majority of Hispanics?

English is seen as useful and is embraced

which is suggested to be most important factor for the maintenance of Spanish in the Southwest?

regular in-migration of new native speakers of Spanish