The role of language in the transmission of prejudice has received much theoretical attention, including the features of the linguistic intergroup bias (LIB) paradigm (Maass, Salvi, Arcuri, & Semin, 1989; 2000). The LIB model posits that a person's linguistic choices in describing others may reveal positive in-group and negative out-group biases (e.g., Maass, 1999). The following studies investigate specific intrapersonal and socio-contextual variables related to both the mitigation and maintenance of linguistic intergroup bias. The first study examines the acquisition of an out-group language and the subsequent development of out-group identity among minority Canadian Francophones as factors mitigating biased speech. Results reveal that second language (L2) confidence and out-group identification are both related to a decrease in negative out-group bias. However, these same factors appear to promote biased speech toward the in-group. This unexpected finding is understood in relation to the relative imbalance in social power between Francophone and Anglophone Canadians. A subsequent study expands upon these results, through investigation of the LIB in relation to relative group status. While some participants demonstrate a LIB effect, others show out-group favoritism, dubbed here as a reverse LIB effect. Moreover, minority-group members use linguistic bias differently than do majority-group members. These findings suggest that certain factors may in fact contribute to variations in the typical LIB effect. A final study explores the effect of an experimental manipulation of identity on the LIB. Among several revealing observations, analyses indicate that the priming of an inclusive, super-ordinate Canadian identity among minority group members has an effect on linguistic bias use. Results are discussed in the context of intergroup communication theory.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/30129 |
Date | January 2011 |
Creators | Shulman, Jessica Leigh |
Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis |
Format | 183 p. |
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