Sociolinguistic Studies, Estudios de Sociolingüística 7.2 2006

Monolingualism: The unmarked case

Elizabeth Ellis
Issued Date: 19 Apr 2007

Abstract


It is frequently observed that bilingualism and multilingualism are more common in
the world than monolingualism, and yet, as Romaine (1995) points out, it is rare to
find a book with the title ‘Monolingualism’. Linguistic theories have often assumed
monolingualism to be the norm (Pav l e n ko, 2000), and this view is often held by
individual monolinguals who are speakers of a dominant language such as English
(Edwards, 1994). This paper will review three representations of monolingualism in
the applied linguistics literature. The first is as an unmarked case, against wh i c h
bilingualism and multilingualism are set as the exception. The second representation
is of monolingualism as a limitation on cog n i t ive, communicative, social and
vocational potential (Kirkpatrick, 2000; Crozet, Liddicoat & Lo Bianco, 1999).
Perspectives from language policy documents in Australia are presented to illustrate
the second representation. The third and most critical representation employ s
metaphors of disease, sickness and disability to port r ay monolingualism as a
p a t h o l ogical state (Skutnabb-Kangas, 2000a; Oller, 1997). This latter strand of
literature critiques the influence of the monolingual perspectives held by those who
wield authority in language policy and in education. The paper concludes with a call
for the development of a framework within which to understand monolingualism and
its social and educational effects.

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DOI: 10.1558/sols.v7i2.173

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