Language-learning holidays: what motivates people to learn a minority language?

O'Rourke, B. and DePalma, R. (2017) Language-learning holidays: what motivates people to learn a minority language? International Journal of Multilingualism, 14(4), pp. 332-349. (doi: 10.1080/14790718.2016.1184667)

Abstract

In this article, we examine the experiences of 18 Galician language learners who participated in what Garland [(2008). The minority language and the cosmopolitan speaker: Ideologies of Irish language learners (Unpublished PhD thesis). University of California, Santa Barbara] refers to as a ‘language-learning holiday’ in Galicia in north-western Spain. We examine what motivates these learners to travel abroad to study Galician and in some cases to become new speakers of this minoritised language. We explore the ideologies and practices of these students, who as edutourists [Yarymowich, (2005). ‘Language tourism’ in Canada. A mixed discourse. In F. Baider, M. Burger, & D. Goutsos (Eds.), La Communication touristique. Approches discursives de l’identité et de l’alterité (pp. 257-273). Paris: L’Harmattan], are the targets and potential consumers of cultural and linguistic commodification. We explore the ways in which students themselves commodify Galician culture and language, in their attempts to capture what they perceive as an authentic learning experience and as a means of accessing a minoritised linguistic and cultural group.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding information Research trips forfieldwork and for the writing of this paper were supported by a Small Research Grant in Arts and Humanities awarded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This work was also sup- ported by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: O'Rourke, Professor Bernadette
• Authors: O'Rourke, B., and DePalma, R.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Modern Languages and Cultures > Hispanic Studies
• Journal Name: International Journal of Multilingualism
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1479-0718
• ISSN (Online): 1747-7530
• Published Online: 29 May 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Multilingualism 14(4):332-349
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher