Identity and language contributions to and consequences of speaking Spanish in the workplace Academic Article

abstract

• Language is an important marker of identity. Guided by social identity theory and using a grounded theory approach, this study examined how languages are chosen and shape experiences in the workplace. Results suggest that language use is influenced by both external (norms, business needs) and internal (identity, language comfort) processes. Furthermore, speaking Spanish in the workplace has both positive (inclusion, camaraderie) and negative effects (exclusion, harassment, discrimination), with many more negative effects reported by our participants. Speaking Spanish appears to mark the speaker as an outsider. Together, our results indicate that language use is an important choice, personally and professionally, for employees and plays an important role in the way individuals are treated in the workplace.

authors

• Bergman, Mindy

published proceedings

• HISPANIC JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

author list (cited authors)

• Bergman, M. E., Watrous-Rodriguez, K. M., & Chalkley, K. M.

citation count

• 16

complete list of authors

• Bergman, Mindy E||Watrous-Rodriguez, Kristen M||Chalkley, Katherine M

publication date

• January 2008

publisher

• SAGE Publications  Publisher

published in

• Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences  Journal

keywords

• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Identity
• Language
• Prejudice
• Work Organizations

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1177/0739986307311255

start page

• 40

end page

• 68

volume

• 30

issue

• 1

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739986307311255