scholarly journals The English language fluency and occupational success of ethnic minority immigrant men living in English metropolitan areas

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Shields ◽  
Stephen Wheatley Price
Author(s):  
Amílcar Antonio Barreto

While the PPD methodically debated the pros and cons of official unilingualism their PNP rivals, who won the 1992 elections, restored bilingualism within weeks of taking office. The PNP’s rush became apparent when Gov. Pedro Rosselló announced the promotion of a new status plebiscite. As Congress took up the status question in 1993, PNP delegates flashed the new language law as a clear sign of loyalty to the US. That move failed to sway many federal lawmakers who repeatedly brought up the connection between the Spanish language and Puerto Rican identity, along with the low rates of English-language fluency on the island. At this juncture English-language activists from the US mainland began interjecting themselves in the island’s status debates during the English-only movement, reiterating the tight bonds between American-ness and the de facto US vernacular. Although out of office, Commonwealth supporters won the 1993 status plebiscite.


2019 ◽  
pp. 159-176
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Sallaz

Straight Filipino men are underrepresented (at approximately 15%) in the call center labor force. Gendered norms about Filipino masculinity, this chapter argues, have established English-language fluency as a feminine, or even gay, trait. “Real men,” so to speak, work with their hands and bodies rather than with their voices. Still, many Filipino men do pursue and obtain call center jobs. They do so as means by which to establish roots in the Philippines rather than migrate abroad. To work in the industry, however, straight men must be able to deflect various challenges to their masculinity. Case studies of male workers are used to illustrate this dynamic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed Abd Elwahab

Due to the variety of their local dialects and accents, Arab learners occasionally face some problems when pronouncing English letters and phonemes. These pronunciation errors are caused by the influence of native language interference. Each language in any part of the world has its linguistic characteristics and rules that control their pronunciation and even word-formation process, which distinguishes them from those of other nations. Modern linguists described this phenomenon as verbal behaviors because, by the end of a special stage of a child’s growth, it becomes as constant customs. As a consequence, generations inherit these verbal qualities from their ancient without having any choices to make a linguistic formation in particular. As they work to develop their English language fluency, Arabic ESL students, for instance, face several pronunciation difficulties such as adding or replacing new phonemes that do not exist in the target language. The linguistic differences between Arabic and English usually have a crucial impact on how simply a learner can study to form the English letter sounds.


Author(s):  
Josep Ubalde ◽  
Josiah Heyman

Abstract There is a considerable number of studies that analyze the benefits of language(s) in the labor market. It is a sensitive topic because of its relevance for language maintenance, and therefore, for the selective acculturation of immigrants in host societies. In this paper, the effect of non-English language fluency on the occupational attainment of immigrants and natives is analyzed, both in terms of occupational wages and socio-economic status. Results indicate that there is no advantage associated with non-English language fluency, either for natives or immigrants. Rather, a penalty for the specific case of Spanish fluency among immigrants was found. Three explanations from previous literature regarding the benefits of bilingualism in the labor market – human capital, devaluation and discrimination— are discussed in relation to the obtained results. The paper concludes with some recommendations about the recognition of language diversity in the labor market and policies aimed at the integrative acculturation of immigrants.


Elements ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailey Burgess

Today, there exist two very different versions of Jordan vying for superiority: that which is rooted in an indigenous Arab culture and language, and that of Westernizing, wealthy, and influential minorities. English language proficiency and fluency is an important aspect of this widening gap. It can determine employment opportunity, social interaction, and acceptance into various spaces. Its causes, while more complex and difficult to untangle, can ultimately be traced to an education system rife with class-based hierarchy and unequal resource distribution as well as a postcolonial association of English as a language of superiority and, increasingly, a marker of class difference. Thus, rather than perpetuate the spread of English for nonessential purposes, Jordan should undertake educational reform projects focusing on an Arabic curriculum with universal standards across governorates and the public-private sector divide. Further, it should more efficiently enforce existing laws affirming the primacy of Arabic in public life and take steps to tighten loopholes such as tourism permits for private businesses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-562
Author(s):  
Machele Anderson ◽  
Ronald B. Cox ◽  
Zachary Giano ◽  
Karina M. Shreffler

Latino parents have lower levels of school involvement compared to other ethnic groups, which is often attributed—though not tested—to low English language proficiency. Using a population-based sample of 637 7th grade Latino youth attending an urban school district, we find no significant difference in maternal school involvement when mothers and students are either both fluent in English or both non-fluent. When students are more fluent than their mothers, however, maternal school involvement is significantly lower, suggesting that schools may need to take additional steps to encourage parental involvement when there is language dissonance between parents and their children.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheryl Kataoka ◽  
Audra Langley ◽  
Bradley Stein ◽  
Lisa Jaycox ◽  
Lily Zhang ◽  
...  

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