Ideology and language: Assumed and authentic linguistic practices of Portuguese migrants in workspaces on Jersey

Abstract

This Chapter examines recent research into the economic, sociocultural and sociolin¬guistic presence of Portuguese migrants in St. Helier, Jersey work¬spaces, carried out as part of two LINEE Work Packages entitled ‘Economic Participation, Language Practices and Collective Identities in the Multilingual City’ and ‘Politics and Strategies of Identity in Multicultural European Cities’. Here, I consider the linguistic practices of migrant workers who work both in receptor and in autochthonous businesses. The general hypothesis is that ideologies pertaining to linguistic diversity and multilingual competencies may differ according to context, and as such do not always reflect workspace sociolinguistic realities even though they may have certain implications for the ways in which migrant workers assess both the symbolic and material value of non-formalized, tacit knowledge (such as language) within the Knowledge Based Society (KBS). To this end, the following research questions are addressed:

• How does language use in the workspace both reflect and inform stake¬holder ideologies?
• Is there a power and status dimension in the negotiation of workspace lin¬guistic practices?
• What then, is the potential for linguistic diversity in the workspace?
• Is there a strictly demarcated apportionment of language?
• Are discriminatory or conflictual scenario engendered by the pervading linguistic ideologies or practices?

The primary aim is to contribute to a fuller understanding and appreciation of stakeholder and collective migrant ideologies regarding language use in the workspace. In order to do this, the paper takes as its focus the case study of Portu¬guese migration to St.Helier, the capital city of Jersey in the Channel Islands, researched within the LINEE network. Although part of the British Isles, the Channel Islands are not part of the UK and as such, are not subject to EU employment law. Moreover, despite the strongly multilingual and multicultural character of the island, the little research that has been carried out to date into the Portuguese diaspora on Jersey focuses primarily on identification practices, hence the urgent need for research focusing more on the participatory practices of the Portuguese in workspace environments and how their multilinguistic skills (or lack of them) impact on their opportunities in such environments

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ORCID for Jaine E. Beswick: orcid.org/0000-0002-1866-939X

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