Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory

Ethnolinguistic identity theory (ELIT) addresses the relationship between socially subordinate ethnic groups and their language use in social contexts. It is conceptually derived from Henri Tajfel and John Turner's social identity theory, from which ELIT borrows four main concepts: social categorization, social identity, social comparison, and psychological distinctiveness. These concepts are linked causally, whereby social categorization accounts for an individual's perspective of another as a member of one's same group (ingroup ) or as a member of a distinct other (outgroup ); social identity accounts for an individual's awareness of his or her own social group and the values associated with it; social comparison means the person will favor his or her own ingroup as more desirable for membership as compared to a perceived outgroup; and psychological distinctiveness is derived from a positive perception of one's ingroup, which in turn contributes to a positive self-identification. Taken together, these causal factors describe the ways in which individuals define themselves in social contexts. ELIT takes these factors into account and extends on them to focus more specifically on the language aspects of social identity. A general point of inquiry for ELIT scholars concerns the development of an understanding of how and under what conditions an understanding of one's individual self intersects with language use. Thus, ethnolinguistic identity theorists seek to identify the social psychological factors involved in the relationship between individuals’ ethnicity and language use.

According to ELIT, although an individual may hold membership in multiple groups that serve to compose his or her social identity, never will the individual possess or have access to all of those relationships in equal regard in any one particular social situation. While gender, social class, and social group membership (e.g., profession) figure into a speaker's construction of social identity, ELIT focuses on perceived ethnic identification as the main variable in the representation of a speaker's affiliation. Additionally, ethnolinguistic identity theorists propose that when particular linguistic characteristics (e.g., ethnic linguistic constructions or standard usage) are perceived as more valuable in a given social context, those characteristics will be more emphasized by the speaker.

Beyond those concepts borrowed from social identity theory, ELIT is focused on three variables as relevant to a person's increase or decrease in feelings of what Howard Giles and Patricia Johnson term ethnic belongingness. This sense of belongingness has a direct relationship to how strongly a person identifies with an ethnic group and its particular linguistic practices. The first variable is perceived vitality, which concerns a person's perceptions of his or her ingroup status, demography, and institutional support for the group language. Ethnolinguistic identity theorists propose that where higher levels of vitality are perceived on the part of the speakers, the group identification increases, which in turn leads to an increase in the use of linguistic characteristics identified as germane to the group's language practices. One way a group's perceived vitality can be influenced is by the presence of a local ethnic community where the language can be used on a regular basis. Another influence on vitality is the group's connection to a homeland, either personally or through the connections of others who are part of the local ethnic community.

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