Resumen de Who Supports the English-Only Movement?: Evidence for Misconceptions about Latino Group Vitality
The considerable growth in language minority populations in the US in recent years has been matched by an increase in language policies encapsulated by the English-only movement. Using vitality theory as a framework, this study investigated if support for English-only policies among Anglo-Americans is related to perceptions about growing Latino group vitality (salience in the population, social institutions, and increased power/status) and the presence of Spanish in the linguistic landscape. The study examined these issues by conducting a telephone survey (n = 389) in Santa Barbara, California. As predicted, Anglo-Americans' perceptions of growing Latino vitality together with decreasing Anglo vitality, and a strong within group language identity, were related to support for English-only policies and (to a lesser extent) social limitations on immigrants. Contrary to expectations, less contact with Spanish in the linguistic landscape was associated with greater support for English-only policies. Older participants were much more likely to support English-only policies, while those with a higher level of education were less likely to support such policies.
