Linguistic diversity and linguicism

 Although we live in a society where linguistic diversity is normal, there is often little awareness of how this reality is linked to discrimination. Many people experience discrimination in everyday life because of the way they speak. This language-based discrimination is called accent bias or linguicism. Linguicism is, therefore, discrimination against people who use a certain language or a language in a specific way. My workshops encourage participants to reflect on where they encounter linguistic diversity and language-based discrimination in their everyday life. Language is never just a pure means of communication. Some languages are considered more desirable and useful than others. Regional or classed accents are subject to judgements in everyday life. 

The workshops look into what ideas we have about different ways of speaking, where they originate and how they play out in everyday life. The aim is to develop a critical perspective on how we think about languages and their speakers to raise awareness about the exclusion that results from it. The workshops are aimed at adults and young people who want to engage critically with the nexus of linguistic diversity and power relations. This includes educators, teachers, pupils, students, social workers, content creators, creative industry workers and anyone else interested in the topic. The workshop is designed as a one- to two-day workshop but can also be offered in a shorter form if required.