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Articles

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2024)

La sociolinguistique pour le changement en immersion française : un examen transdisciplinaire d’idéologies linguistiques dans les prairies canadiennes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.37213/cjal.2024.33445
Submitted
May 8, 2023
Published
2025-05-30

Abstract

This article examines the discourses of French immersion students and educators with respect to the linguistic ideologies that prevent them from being included in Francophone communities. We begin with a review of literature on certain ideologies to better understand the work that is already being done in the field. In this paper, we draw on sociolinguistics for change, a theoretical perspective that takes a critical and reflective approach to our role as researchers as well as examining power relations among French as a second language speakers. We examine excerpts from our research that are related to discourses on current ideologies. Our transdisciplinary team examines the following themes: linguistic varieties, linguistic security, immersion and plurilingual students, and the roles of linguistic repertoires for students in French immersion. We note that the discourses continue to exclude French learners, but that these discourses can lead to changes, especially among young plurilingual students. We conclude that more inclusive conceptions of Francophone identity are possible.

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