CONTEMPORARY BRITISH IDENTITY Studies in Migration and Diaspora Series Editor: Anne J Kershen, Queen Mary College, University of London, UK Studies in Migration and Diaspora is a series designed to showcase the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of research in this important field Volumes in the series cover local, national and global issues and engage with both historical and contemporary events The books will appeal to scholars, students and all those engaged in the study of migration and diaspora Amongst the topics covered are minority ethnic relations, transnational movements and the cultural, social and political implications of moving from ‘over there’, to ‘over here’ Also in the series: Negotiating Boundaries in the City Joanna Herbert ISBN 978-0-7546-4677-8 Migration and Domestic Work: A European Perspective on a Global Theme Edited by Helma Lutz ISBN 978-0-7546-4790-4 The Cultures of Economic Migration: International Perspectives Edited by Suman Gupta and Tope Omoniyi ISBN 978-0-7546-7070-4 Writing Diaspora: South Asian Women, Culture and Ethnicity Yasmin Hussain ISBN 978-0-7546-4113-1 Food in the Migrant Experience Edited by Anne J Kershen ISBN 978-0-7546-1874-4 Language, Labour and Migration Edited by Anne J Kershen ISBN 978-0-7546-1171-4 Contemporary British Identity English Language, Migrants and Public Discourse CHRISTINA JULIOS © Christina Julios 2008 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher Christina Julios has asserted her moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work Published by Ashgate Publishing Limited Gower House Croft Road Aldershot Hampshire GU11 3HR England Ashgate Publishing Company Suite 420 101 Cherry Street Burlington, VT 05401-4405 USA Ashgate website: http://www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Julios, Christina Contemporary British identity : English language, migrants and public discourse - (Studies in migration and diaspora) Minorities - Great Britain - Language Immigrants Cultural assimilation - Great Britain National characteristics, British Sociolinguistics - Great Britain Great Britain - Ethnic relations I Title 305.8'00941 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Julios, Christina Contemporary British identity : English language, migrants, and public discourse / by Christina Julios p cm (Studies in migration and diaspora) Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN-13: 978-0-7546-7158-9 ISBN-10: 0-7546-7158-5 (hbk.) National characteristics, British History 20th century Group identity Great Britain History 20th century Multiculturalism Great Britain Ethnology Great Britain History 20th century Great Britain Civilization 20th century British-Ethnic identity I Title DA118.J78 2008 305.0941 dc22 2007031232 ISBN 978-0-7546-7158-9 Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall Contents Foreword Preface and Acknowledgements PART vii ix LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY Introduction English Language Colonisation, De-Colonisation and Globalisation 23 Ethnic Linguistic Minorities 39 PART MIGRANTS AND THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE 1900s–1950s: A Discourse of Laissez-faire – Preserving the Status Quo 77 1960s–1980s: A Discourse of Multiculturalism – Living with Difference 91 1990s–2000s: A Discourse of Integration – Sharing Common Values PART CONCLUSION Contemporary British Identity – Over a Hundred Years in the Making Bibliography Index 115 139 163 193 This page intentionally left blank Foreword At the same time as this book was going into print (autumn 2007) Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that he intended to introduce more stringent linguistic requirements for skilled non-EU migrants wishing to enter the United Kingdom Not only was this a signal that Britain was tightening immigration control but, in addition, of the centrality of the English language in the construction of British identity and in the acquisition of British citizenship As the sociologist Robin Cohen stated some years ago, ‘British identity is modelled on an English speaking white Anglo-Saxon Protestant ideal’ In this book, Christina Julios sets out, as she says, ‘to shed some light’ on the construct of modern British identity, of which the English language is a central constituent By so doing she reminds us that, in spite of its nation building role, English is not just the preserve of the United Kingdom and its citizens The legacy of Empire and the global use of the world wide web has made it one of the world’s dominant languages in countries which span the continents and range in size from the vastness of the world’s most powerful nation – the United States of America – to one which has only recently gained a degree of self-government, Wales And, by exploring the way in which different governments have addressed the policy dilemma of mono or bilingualism, she reminds us that the construction of national identity is a complex fusion of culture, demographics, economics, politics and, lastly but significantly, mythology However, what Julios provides in this book is much more than a linguistic study It is an exploration of the evolution of a nation and the way in which patterns and volumes of immigration have impacted on policy-makers and their perception of the place of language in that process By so doing we are confronted by the contemporary dichotomy of multicultural versus multiculturalism The former, being a legitimate description of British society in the first decade of the twenty-first century; the latter, the subject of continuing and contrasting policy deliberations Yet we should not ignore the historical perspective, for the issues of today are part of the nation’s immigration heritage and the variations of policy approach which tinted the last half of the twentieth century As the author demonstrates, over the past 50 years governments have vacillated between supporting multiculturalism and bilingualism or signalling the supremacy of majority language and opting for an integrative approach It is clear is that there is no easy resolution Irrespective of government policies or public sentiment, the majority language absorbs incomer characteristics: for example, the linguistic legacy of earlier Huguenot and Eastern European immigrants is clearly manifest in the pages of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary Is it in this way, through subtle absorption – one which evokes little negative reaction, indeed often goes unnoticed – that diversity and difference can peacefully and successfully viii Contemporary British Identity contribute to the ever-evolving British identity? A reading of this volume goes a considerable way towards answering that question Anne J Kershen Queen Mary, University of London Autumn 2007 Preface and Acknowledgements The co-operation of many people has made it possible for me to complete this book, and I am indebted to them all First and foremost, I should like to thank Dr Anne Kershen for her encouragement and support throughout From my early years as an undergraduate student at Queen Mary, University of London to the present day as Third Sector practitioner, Anne has always been a source of inspiration and guidance She was the driving force behind this project and it is to her credit that it has come to fruition I am most grateful to Krishna Sarda, Chief Executive of the Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF), for his interest in the book and invaluable assistance I should like to thank Lord Amir Bhatia, EMF’s Chairman, for his genorous support Thanks as well to the helpful staff both at the British Library (BL) and the British Library of Political and Economic Sciences (BLPES) for advising on locating relevant materials Special thanks to Donna Elliot and the Editorial team at Ashgate for their kindness and professionalism Finally, my greatest debt is to my dearest Nicholas for his patience, advice and love always Dr Christina Julios June 2007 ... 978-0-7546-1171-4 Contemporary British Identity English Language, Migrants and Public Discourse CHRISTINA JULIOS © Christina Julios 2008 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be... http://www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Julios, Christina Contemporary British identity : English language, migrants and public discourse - (Studies in migration and diaspora)... Contemporary British identity : English language, migrants, and public discourse / by Christina Julios p cm (Studies in migration and diaspora) Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN-13: 978-0-7546-7158-9