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Justicia lingüística

Language Justice

Language justice involves labor practices that

1) ensure that each person has equal access to all materials, conversations and information in the language they prefer, in any given setting

2) recognizes the value of all languages and create spaces for the production and use of languages historically marginalized or disparaged

3) facilitate cross-language dialogue and the participation of bodies who are otherwise excluded from societal activities because they don't speak the dominant language

4) allow people to share their experiences, give opinions, make decisions and ask questions in the language they prefer to do so, to foster an intercultural construction of a society that includes everyone

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Language justice is a response to linguicism.

Linguicism, as defined by Tove Skutnabb-Kangas:

ideologies, structures and practices which are used to legitimate, effectuate, regulate and reproduce an unequal division of power and resources (both material and inmaterial) between groups which are defined on the basis of language

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One basic aspect of linguicism is thinking one language is superior to another. 

from 1860-1978 Indian boarding schools in the US did not allow Native children to speak their language, in fact they were physically beaten for doing so, creating devastating impacts on culture, psychological health, and economics for generations

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in the late 1800s, oralism rose to become the dominant educational model in deaf schools; deaf people were not allowed to use sign language until the civil rights movement in the 1970s fostered its recognition again as a "valid" language

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"When we come together to dialogue, it is important that we are able to express ourselves in the language that most fully conveys the depth and nuance of our hopes and ideas, our frustrations and questions.

...Language justice allows us all to communicate across difference, without erasing difference..."

- Antena Aire (see RESOURCES for more)

Page under construction; visit RESOURCES for more info

Bedside Spanish operates from Los Angeles, CA, territory of Tongva, Chumash, Tataviam, Serrano, Cahuilla, Luiseño peoples and home to roughly 90 indigenous languages; we recognize all indigenous peoples and languages that continue in existence and resistance.
https://native-land.ca/

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© 2015 Leah Vincent.

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