Attitudes towards languages, contact cultures and immigrant groups according to the ethnolinguistic identity of Basque students / Actitudes hacia lenguas, culturas en contacto y grupos inmigrantes según la identidad etnolingüística de escolares vascos

Abstract

This study analyses the influence of ethnolinguistic identity on attitudes of secondary school students in the Basque Autonomous Community (N = 1,065) towards the languages, cultures and linguistic groups in traditional contact, as well as the emergent immigrant groups. Four identity prototypes were obtained according to the ethnolinguistic identity of the subjects. The Dual prototype integrates Basque and Spanish identity, two prototypes show a polarized identity towards either Basque or Spanish identification, and the Diffuse identity prototype shows low identification with both Basque and Spanish. The results indicate that ethnolinguistic identity has an effect on attitudes towards the traditional contact languages and cultures. Ingroup favouritism can be observed in the polarized identity prototypes, although to varying degrees. The subjects’ differing degrees of Basque-Spanish bilingualism and biculturalism is associated with more inclusive attitudes. The effect of ethnolinguistic identity in relation to the emerging contact was small.