scholarly journals Linguistic prejudice and discrimination in Brazilian Portuguese and beyond

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-62
Author(s):  
Paul O'Neill ◽  
Gladis Massini-Cagliari
Keyword(s):  
Error Correction ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
International Laws ◽  
Prejudice And Discrimination ◽  
Linguistic Prejudice

In this article we make a distinction between the prejudice and discrimination towards (a) different languages and their speakers and (b) different non-standard varieties of the same language and their speakers, and argue that while the discrimination and prejudice towards (a) have been denounced by international institutions and both national and international laws are in place to guarantee the rights of speakers of different languages, the same protection has not been afforded to speakers of non-standard varieties of a language. We examine a specific case of this type of linguistic prejudice in Brazil. We discuss the effectiveness of efforts of linguists to combat linguistic prejudice based on the principle of error correction (Labov 1982) and, drawing on work by Cameron (2012) and Bourdieu (1986), suggest that linguistic prejudice cannot be disentangled from other types of prejudice and that linguists need to have a much deeper understanding of and engagement with the values attached to linguistic forms. We conclude with a number of suggestions and recommendations in order to effectively combat linguistic prejudice.

Sources and the Legitimate Authority of International Law

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Martí
Keyword(s):  
Political Philosophy ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Current System ◽  
Democratic Legitimacy ◽  
Legitimate Authority ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Democratic Equality ◽  
International Laws ◽  
The Right

This chapter considers that political philosophers in recent years are paying growing attention to the legitimacy of international law and international institutions and are asking who has the right to rule and adequate standing to create international laws, and how. It attempts to contribute to this debate in normative political philosophy through the more specific lens of democratic legitimacy. After presenting certain conceptual clarifications, the chapter identifies three basic principles of democratic legitimacy: the principle of ultimate popular control, the principle of democratic equality, and the principle of deliberative contestability, which can be instantiated in six more concrete requirements. The chapter continues by exploring the limitations of two influential views on the democratic legitimacy of international law. Finally, the chapter concludes by expressing some scepticism about the degree to which the current system of sources of international law is democratically legitimate.

scholarly journals Sociolinguistic correlates of negative evaluation: Variable concord in Rio de Janeiro

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Marta Pereira Scherre ◽  
Anthony Julius Naro
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Logistic Model ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Trend Study ◽  
Statistical Effect ◽  
Social Distribution ◽  
Linguistic Prejudice

AbstractVariable agreement in Brazilian Portuguese is subject to social stigma. It was brought to the general public's attention in 2011 in a heated nationwide sociolinguistic debate triggered by TV Globo, the principal network. In order to isolate objective factors underlying this debate, we examine the variableeducationin a trend study of Rio de Janeiro speech. Relying on logistic modelrelative weightsand their correspondingranges, we usepolarizationto designate the magnitude of these ranges. Polarization of the education variable in 1980 was moderate, whereas in 2000, polarization becomes extreme in an increasingly uneven social distribution of standard marked forms. The increased effect of education is also reflected in a comparison with the statistical effect of mass media: in 1980, media contact had a stronger effect than education did, whereas in 2000, education exhibits a stronger effect. The results reveal objective correlates to speakers' subjective reactions, suggesting that public discussion of linguistic prejudice would be useful to the community, which can profit from results of sociolinguistic research in a humanistic and emancipatory way, as foreseen by Sankoff (1988a).

Justice and Recognizing the Rights of States

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 874-900
Author(s):  
Steve Viner
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
International Community ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
International Laws ◽  
State Rights

In this article, I reject Allen Buchanan's justice-based account of recognizing states as legitimate states in an international community of states. I argue that his account can fail to implement justice and that it does not properly consider the nature or importance of international law. After rejecting Buchanan's approach, I offer my account. My account calls for the unbundling of state rights, and it allows each state right to be subject to moral and legal scrutiny. My unbundling account subjects the rights of states to morally justified international laws, and it supports the conclusion that sovereignty and legitimacy should be seen in degrees. It also provides a framework for thinking about how, why and when, morally speaking, international institutions should have the power to grant or withhold legal rights from states.

To borrow or not to borrow: the use of English loanwords as slang on websites in Brazilian Portuguese

English Today ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo H. Diniz de Figueiredo
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Brazilian Portuguese ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
The World ◽  
Popular Movements ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Imminent Threat ◽  
Linguistic Prejudice ◽  
Chamber Of Deputies

The use of English loanwords in different languages has been discussed from various perspectives by several scholars (e.g. Takashi, 1990; Kay, 1995; Takashi Wilkerson, 1997; Smead, 1998; Friedrich, 2002). Although this phenomenon has been regarded as enriching and/or creative by some (e.g. Crystal, 2003; Friedrich, 2002), it has encountered opposition in many parts of the world. Phillipson (1992: 7), for instance, views it ‘as a phenomenon that has offended users of other languages for more than a century.’ He explains how some governments (in France and Slovenia, for example) have adopted measures to prevent the use of loanwords from English. This issue of whether or not the incorporation of loanwords is offensive to the borrowing language became a topic of much debate in Brazil after Projected Law #1676/1999, which aims to limit the use of foreign words (mainly from English) in Brazilian Portuguese (hereafter, BP). As Rajagopalan (2005) explains, many popular movements, politicians, and traditional grammarians have expressed concern that BP is ‘under an imminent threat from English’ (101).Several linguists (e.g. Faraco, 2001) have opposed the proposition, based on issues such as linguistic prejudice and the lack of language expertise of the proponents and supporters of the projected law. Still, the proposition was approved by the Brazilian Senate in 2003. It now awaits further approval by the Chamber of Deputies before a final decision is made. One possible way of investigating whether loanwords are offensive to BP is to approach it from a linguistic perspective. Hence, in the present study, I explore the issue of borrowing by BP speakers through a linguistic analysis of loanwords from English that are currently used as slang in Brazil. The definition of slang used here is that proposed by Eble (1996: 11): ‘an ever changing set of colloquial words and phrases that speakers use to establish or reinforce social identity or cohesiveness within a group or with a trend or fashion in society at large.’

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt Survivors

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay L. Sheehan ◽  
Patrick W. Corrigan ◽  
Maya A. Al-Khouja ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Suicide Method ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Prejudice And Discrimination

Abstract. Background: Past scholarly efforts to describe and measure the stigma surrounding suicide have largely viewed suicide stigma from the perspective of the general public. Aims: In the spirit of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the current study brought together a diverse stakeholder team to qualitatively investigate the suicide stigma as experienced by those most intimately affected by suicide. Method: Seven focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with suicide attempt survivors, family members of those who died by suicide, and suicide loss therapists. Results: Themes were derived for stereotypes (n = 30), prejudice (n = 3), and discrimination (n = 4). People who attempted suicide were seen as attention-seeking, selfish, incompetent, emotionally weak, and immoral. Participants described personal experiences of prejudice and discrimination, including those with health professionals. Conclusion: Participants experienced public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Analyses reveal that the stigma of suicide shares similarities with stereotypes of mental illness, but also includes some important differences. Attempt survivors may be subject to double stigma, which impedes recovery and access to care.

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