Language Attitudes and Identity in Postcolonial Contexts
Summary
In societies shaped by colonial histories, language operates not only as a means of communication but also as a symbol of power, resistance and belonging. Attitudes towards ex-colonial and indigenous languages often reflect broader social hierarchies, economic aspirations and cultural revival movements. Speakers in postcolonial contexts negotiate their identities through choices of language variety, code-switching practices and adoption or rejection of so-called ‘standard’ norms. Language ideologies—beliefs about what constitutes proper or prestigious speech—intersect with education policies, media representation and community practices to influence how individuals perceive themselves and others. Research in this field examines how former colonial languages such as English and French coexist with local tongues, how hybrid varieties emerge, and how linguistic preferences can both reproduce and challenge historical inequalities. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for designing inclusive language policies, promoting linguistic diversity and supporting the cultural agency of postcolonial communities.
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Language Attitudes and Identity in Postcolonial Contexts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in language attitudes and identity in postcolonial contexts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Language attitude: A speaker’s evaluation of a language or variety, reflecting social, cultural or personal biases.
Linguistic identity: The sense of self and community belonging constructed through language use and choice of varieties.
Postcolonial context: Societies and cultural spaces formed in the aftermath of colonial rule, where colonial and indigenous languages intersect.
Language ideology: The set of beliefs about language functions, ownership and legitimacy that shape social practices and power relations.
World Englishes: Diverse regional forms of English that develop outside traditional native-speaker norms, reflecting local influences and identities.
References
- Attitudes toward regional British accents in EFL teaching: Student and teacher perspectives. Linguistics and Education (2022).
- Like That Lah: Malaysian Undergraduates’ Attitudes Towards Localised English. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies (2018).
- Linguistic Diversity and Inclusion: Exploring International Students Attitudes Towards Their Own Accents and Those of Native English Speakers. Communications in Humanities Research (2024).
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