Linguistic identification in the determination of nationality: A preliminary report

Authors: Eades D.¹; Fraser H.²; Siegel J.³; McNamara T.⁴; Baker B.⁵

Source: Language Policy, Volume 2, Number 2, 2003 , pp. 179-199(21)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

The authors of this report are five Australian experts in the fields of sociolinguistics, phonetics (analysis of accent or pronunciation) and language testing. Their report raises concerns about the ``language analysis'' that is being done by overseas agencies and that is being used by the Australian government in determining the nationality of refugee claimants, and concludes that ``language analysis'', as it is currently used, is not valid or reliable. It appears to be based on ``folk views'' about the relationship between language and nationality and ethnicity, rather than sound linguistic principles. The report found that: i) a person's nationality cannot always be determined by the language he or she speaks, ii) a few key words and their pronunciation normally cannot reveal a person's nationality or ethnicity, iii) common perceptions about pronunciation differences among groups of people cannot be relied upon, iv) any analysis of pronunciation must be based on thorough knowledge of the language and region in question and must involve detailed phonetic analysis. Furthermore, in a study of 58 Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) decisions in which this ``language analysis'' was at issue, it was found that there were doubts over its validity. The authors have grave concerns that the use of ``language analysis'' in the determination of nationality may be preventing Australia from properly discharging its responsibilities under the Refugees Convention and therefore call on the Australian Government to stop using this type of analysis.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Second Language Studies, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, 1890 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. E-mail: eades@hawaii.edu 2: Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, University of New England 3: Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, University of New England and Charlene Sato Center for Pidgin, Creole and Dialect Studies, University of Hawai`i 4: Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia 5: Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, University of New England,

Publication date: 2003-01-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Language & Linguistics ,  Anthropology & Archeology
• By this author: Eades D. ;  Fraser H. ;  Siegel J. ;  McNamara T. ;  Baker B.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers