Dissertation Research: The Socialization of Adult Welsh Language Learners

在过去的15年里，威尔士语在威尔士的地位发生了戏剧性的变化：威尔士语曾被禁止在公共场合使用，现在它与英语并列为官方语言。说威尔士语的人最近面临歧视，现在他们被政府和媒体等声望很高的领域的职位所寻找。在这些变化之后，选择学习这门语言的人数达到了创纪录的水平。这篇论文是由圣路易斯华盛顿大学的一位文化人类学家进行的，研究了威尔士加的夫成年威尔士语学习者的社会化问题。该项目使用现场技术，包括参与者观察、媒体接待研究和广泛的采访，阐述了这些学习者在社交过程中是如何处理经常相互冲突的规范信号的，这些人说“合法”或“地道”的威尔士语。这些信号包括媒体对威尔士语各方面的显性和象征性评论，以及来自语言教师和母语人士在互动中的暗示。研究目标包括记录针对学习者的宏观和微观层面的规范信号；探索这些信号如何影响学习者的语言态度、行为和对说威尔士语的人的定义；以及了解“威尔士学习者”标签在多大程度上相当于一种新的社会认同。这项研究将通过在新的意识形态和社会范畴背后架起宏观和微观因素的桥梁，为文化和语言人类学做出贡献。更广泛的影响：威尔士语是成功振兴语言的一个罕见的潜在范例。其他濒危语言社区的成员，如毛利人、爱尔兰人、巴斯克人和康尼什人，密切关注威尔士语政策和教育的发展。因此，研究威尔士语学习者的经历将为试图保留其母语的团体提供有价值的见解。此外，该项目还促进了对一名年轻社会科学家的教育。

Within the past 15 years the status of the Welsh language in Wales has changed dramatically: where Welsh was once banned from public use, it now shares co-official-language status with English. Where Welsh speakers recently faced discrimination, they are now sought out for positions in high-prestige fields such as the government and media. In the wake of these changes, a record number of people are choosing to learn the language. This dissertation research by a cultural anthropologist at Washington University in St. Louis explores the socialization of adult Welsh language learners in Cardiff, Wales. Using field techniques that include participant observation, media reception studies, and extensive interviews, the project addresses how these learners deal with often conflicting normative signals during their socialization as 'legitimate' or 'authentic' Welsh speakers. These signals include both explicit and symbolic commentary on aspects of the Welsh language in the media, and cues from language instructors and native speakers in interaction. Research objectives include documenting macro- and micro-level normative signals aimed at learners; exploring how these signals inform learners' language attitudes, behaviors, and definitions of what a Welsh speaker is; and understanding the extent to which the 'Welsh learner' label amounts to a new category of social identification. This research will contribute to cultural and linguistic anthropology by bridging macro- and micro-level factors behind new ideologies and social categories. Broader impacts: Welsh represents a rare potential example of successful language revitalization. Members of other endangered-language communities, such as the Maori, Irish, Basque, and Cornish, pay close attention to developments in Welsh language policy and education. Research into the experiences of Welsh language learners will therefore provide valuable insights to groups attempting to preserve their native languages. In addition the project advances the education of a young social scientist.