A Study of Selected Racialised Linguistic Experience among International Students in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The presence of linguistic diversity in many societies is widely acknowledged, yet it is often linked to various social challenges that must be addressed. These challenges are increasingly causing concern, particularly based on the experiences of immigrants from linguistically diverse backgrounds in western societies. Given the noticeable lack of discussions on the experiences of linguistic diverse groups, this study aims to investigate the experiences of linguistic diverse immigrants in Scotland. The study utilises interviews to extract responses from three immigrant international students. The interview consisted of 6 carefully crafted open-ended questions, employing a qualitative analytical approach. In the data analysis, Piller's (2016) theory of linguistic diversity was utilised. The research findings indicate that all three participants have experienced instances of linguistic discrimination due to their diverse backgrounds. Although linguistic diversity is acknowledged globally, it often leads to inequality rather than equality, as demonstrated in this study. This is because language is always assessed in relation to the speaker's skin colour and idea that only the western society has a standard mastery of English language.