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Factors Affecting Language Choice In A Multinational Society
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The researcher observed that before an individual thinks of language
choice, there must be some motivational factors. Motivation and
investment in this process, by the individual, will depend on the value
attached to prospective gains accompanying proficiency in the relevant
language. He also observed that language choice is affected by
utilitarian considerations. A speaker may feel that the use of a
particular language will place him in an advantageous position either
within a group or within a wider social context. If his antagonists in a
discussion or argument are less fluent than he is, this will clearly
serve to give him a valuable edge. The perceived advantage does not
have to be in relation to other individuals. It may be for purely
personal considerations that a person chooses to speak a particular
language. A student of a foreign language may prefer to use that
language whenever possible, with the sole intention of improving his
ability.
Acquiring an additional language, second, third or fourth,
will be greatly affected by the social, political and economic
environment within which the acquisition process takes place. Learners
of additional languages are either born into or transferred to (as a
result of migration) a multilingual context. Those born into such a
situation usually accept the need for multilingualism as a natural
phenomenon and hence can easily see the importance and the gains of
achieving a high level of proficiency in the various relevant
languages. Those transferred to a multilingual context as a result of
immigration, have some difficult choices to make:
Maintenance of the heritage language in order to preserve the culture and ethnic identity.
Acquisition of the new national language in order to gain equitable access to the new country’s resources.
Acquisition of a language of wider communication, such as English for academic and professional purposes.
Finally,
acquisition of another local language, which is needed for interaction
with neighbours or fellow workers at the workplace. In this kind of
situation, language choices may require certain “prices†to be paid by
the learner.
Communication is only possible if both speakers share
the same language, and there is little to gain from addressing someone
in a language which they do not understand. There is an almost
universal taboo upon the use of a language which might exclude one or
more members of a group from a discussion, even if the subject of that
discussion has no direct relevance to that person or persons. For
example, a group of Igbo speakers may be discussing plans for a farewell
party for one of their work-mates who is about to retire. Another
person, one who does not work at the same company, who does not know the
gentleman in question, and who will not be invited to the party, joins
the group. This new comer, moreover, does not speak Igbo. It is now
incumbent upon the group to continue their discussion in a language
which that person can understand. Having to change the language of the
discussion to one which may be a second or third language for a majority
of the members can, of course, have a stultifying effect upon the
course of the discussion, making it more difficult to express thoughts
and ideas. In this case, however, the exclusion constraint takes
precedence over the language preference of the group majority. In
extreme cases, the requirement for a common language might force all of
the speakers to adopt second or third languages. The search for a
common language may sometimes prove unsuccessful, and a group will have
to choose the language which allows participation of the greatest number
of people.
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