Abstract
Abstract Neither sociolinguists nor the sociology of language have taken seriously the role of language in the labour market. This paper aims to consider the specific nature of the class structure in a peripheral economy in Wales, and the role of language in the creation of class fractions. Drawing upon data from research carried out in Gwynedd at the end of the 1980s, the work focuses on the new middle class which, on account of being both employers of labour whilst at the same time being employees of capital, are in a contradictory class location within the class structure and may be expected to orientate either upwards towards the bourgeoisie or downwards towards the proletariat. The cultural division of labour within the peripheral economy in Wales involves a tendency for the private sector management to be non‐Welsh, being drawn from the English core, whereas the public sector management contains a significant number of Welsh speakers. Employing social relationships as an indicator of class orientati...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
