An interdiscursive analysis of language and immigrant integration policy discourse in Canada

Abstract

This paper presents a critical discourse analysis of the Canadian policy discourse surrounding language and immigrant integration, focusing on the interdiscursive processes through which it recontextualizes discourse elements from a neo-liberal skills discourse, an academic discourse of language as communicative competency, and a research discourse of language as a factor in immigrant incorporation. This dominant discourse on language and integration is based on standard language ideology regarding the functional importance of language skills for economic integration of new immigrants and legitimizes the increased salience of language within the Canadian immigration regime. It also plays a mediating role in changes in discourse practices surrounding language and integration policy associated with a neo-liberal transformation of the Canadian immigration regime.