Ethnolinguistic Vitality

The objective vitality of an ethnolinguistic group (an ethnic group defined by its language) can be defined by factors such as economic status, geographic concentration, and political representation, according to Howard Giles, Richard Bourhis, and Donald Taylor. The greater the group's objective vitality, the more likely it is that group members will learn and maintain their ingroup language. According to ethnolinguistic identity theory, which explains language shifts, multilingualism, language attitudes, and media use, perceptions of group vitality are predictive of behavior. This entry looks at the implications of ethnolinguistic vitality for intergroup relations, language shifts, multilingualism, and social attitudes.