This study explores library discourses on multilingualism. The aim is to illuminate how unequal power relations are reproduced or transformed through these discourses. To examine this, I focus on a report on multilingualism, produced by the National Library of Sweden, included in their work with a national library strategy. The analysis is performed through the theoretical lens of discourse theory, inspired by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, in combination with an adapted version of Richard Ruiz’s orientations to language planning. Two discourses are identified: ”the old multilingualism”-discourse and ”the new multilingualism”-discourse. I argue that these two discourses are compatible, though constructed as a binary opposition. ”The old multilingualism”-discourse is related to national minorities, rest on a language-as-right orientation and is recognised as an individual resource. ”The new multilingualism”-discourse, which is the dominant discourse, is related to immigrants and constructed as something new. It is drawing on a deficit discourse, aiming at assimilation, and thereby reproduces unequal power relations. At the same time multilingualism is recognised as a societal resource that should be promoted. This thesis partake in a discussion on diversity within Library and Information Science.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-26734 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Jonsson, Amanda |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för bibliotek, information, pedagogik och IT |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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