What Does Language Do? Applying the Master Narrative Framework to Language Ideologies in Multilingual and Monolingual Speakers, Poster 45

Master narratives are culturally shared stories that provide guidance on individuals’ personal thoughts, beliefs, and values. Individuals often internalize master narratives, but some may also negotiate and seek alternative... [ view full abstract ]

Master narratives are culturally shared stories that provide guidance on individuals’ personal thoughts, beliefs, and values. Individuals often internalize master narratives, but some may also negotiate and seek alternative narratives in resistance (McLean, Shucard & Syed, 2016). This research applies a master narrative framework to language, which involves meanings and implicit assumptions about what language is, what language does, what language is for, and why it is valuable. The purpose of this research is to uncover master narratives of language that are dominant in the United States. We do this by examining narrative conversations of speakers with different orientations to language, specifically, monolingual and multilingual speakers living in the United States. Through this approach, this research aims to contextualize personal stories of language within culture and understand how narratives are formed, resisted, and negotiated between persons and culture.