Journal of International Migration and Integration
Volume 11, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 295-313

Erasing English language competency: African migrants in Vancouver, Canada (Article)

Creese G.*
  • a Centre for Women's and Gender Studies, and Sociology Department, University of British Columbia, 6303 N.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

Abstract

This paper explores how the linguistic competency of English-speaking migrants from sub-Saharan Africa is challenged in Vancouver, Canada. African migrants, particularly women, identify the problem of accent discrimination as a central feature of their lives that results in systemic forms of inequality. Using Bourdieu's concept of linguistic capital, the paper locates the erasure of African migrants' linguistic capital in the legacy of British colonialism in both Canada and Africa. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Author Keywords

Migration Gender Accent discrimination Linguistic capital Racialization

Index Keywords

international migration Canada Sub-Saharan Africa language African immigrant British Columbia Vancouver womens status gender role racism immigrant population
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77954455702&doi=10.1007%2fs12134-010-0139-3&partnerID=40&md5=446b5f3a059f38dbbccdaffc307a4e03
DOI: 10.1007/s12134-010-0139-3
ISSN: 14883473
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English