“From Left to Right”: the Influence of Political Orientation on the Language Attitudes of the Population of Palma toward Catalan and Spanish
Document Type
Poster
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
Sociolinguistics (Language attitudes)
Location
MBSC Chancellor's Room
Start Date
18-10-2024 2:30 PM
End Date
18-10-2024 3:30 PM
Abstract
Following the restoration of Spanish democracy in the 1970s, the institutions of the Balearic Islands crafted a legal framework for Catalan and Spanish. This framework not only recognizes them as official languages in the region but also strives for the normalization and promotion of Catalan as the minority and historic language of the archipelago. The establishment of this legal framework, however, and the consequent implementation of certain language policies, has been accompanied by a process of polarization in the Balearic society in terms of language attitudes, particularly in Palma, the capital city (Aguiló-Mora & Lynch, 2017; Calafat Vila & Calero-Pons, 2019; Castell et al., 2023; Ibáñez Ferreté, 2014; Tudela Isanta, 2021). Likewise, it seems that in recent years these language attitudes have become associated with certain political orientations, to the point of turning the linguistic situation in the Balearic Islands into a constant political debate (Amorós, 2017; Colmenero, 2018; Colom, 2023; Crespí, 2023; Galvín, 2017; Garau, 2023; Gentili, 2013; Manresa, 2015; Mateos, 2023; Olaizola, 2013; Pellicer, 2023; Sánchez, 2023). Consequently, this study explores the relationship between political orientation and the language attitudes of the population of Palma toward Catalan and Spanish. Data from 99 participants aged 18 to 71 were collected through an online questionnaire organized in three sections: the first one on demographics, the second one on language uses, and the third one on language attitudes. Data were analyzed using linear regression in R (R Core Team 2023). Results revealed a significant association of political orientation on the language attitudes of the population of Palma toward Catalan and Spanish, as well as three main findings regarding this association. First, a clear political division was found between progressive and conservative participants; second, differing attitudes towards Catalan and Spanish reflect their social and cultural positions in the community; and third, individuals’ language attitudes need not always align with usage patterns. Together, the results of the present study highlight the significant association between political orientation and language attitudes, as well as their impact on the promotion and implementation of certain language policies.
“From Left to Right”: the Influence of Political Orientation on the Language Attitudes of the Population of Palma toward Catalan and Spanish
MBSC Chancellor's Room
Following the restoration of Spanish democracy in the 1970s, the institutions of the Balearic Islands crafted a legal framework for Catalan and Spanish. This framework not only recognizes them as official languages in the region but also strives for the normalization and promotion of Catalan as the minority and historic language of the archipelago. The establishment of this legal framework, however, and the consequent implementation of certain language policies, has been accompanied by a process of polarization in the Balearic society in terms of language attitudes, particularly in Palma, the capital city (Aguiló-Mora & Lynch, 2017; Calafat Vila & Calero-Pons, 2019; Castell et al., 2023; Ibáñez Ferreté, 2014; Tudela Isanta, 2021). Likewise, it seems that in recent years these language attitudes have become associated with certain political orientations, to the point of turning the linguistic situation in the Balearic Islands into a constant political debate (Amorós, 2017; Colmenero, 2018; Colom, 2023; Crespí, 2023; Galvín, 2017; Garau, 2023; Gentili, 2013; Manresa, 2015; Mateos, 2023; Olaizola, 2013; Pellicer, 2023; Sánchez, 2023). Consequently, this study explores the relationship between political orientation and the language attitudes of the population of Palma toward Catalan and Spanish. Data from 99 participants aged 18 to 71 were collected through an online questionnaire organized in three sections: the first one on demographics, the second one on language uses, and the third one on language attitudes. Data were analyzed using linear regression in R (R Core Team 2023). Results revealed a significant association of political orientation on the language attitudes of the population of Palma toward Catalan and Spanish, as well as three main findings regarding this association. First, a clear political division was found between progressive and conservative participants; second, differing attitudes towards Catalan and Spanish reflect their social and cultural positions in the community; and third, individuals’ language attitudes need not always align with usage patterns. Together, the results of the present study highlight the significant association between political orientation and language attitudes, as well as their impact on the promotion and implementation of certain language policies.