1. Urban Multilingualism
The Case of Dublin City
Lorna Carson & Daniela Modrescu

2. Overview of Dublin/Ireland
Irish and English are the official languages of Ireland. English is the dominant language, and the language of instruction in general (although growth in Irish-medium schools)
Intense linguistic diversity resulting from immigration is relatively recent (Carson et al., 2014)
In the 2011 Census, 12% of the population recorded speaking other languages than English and Irish at home; one in six residents in the administrative division of Dublin was a non-Irish national.
Foreign languages not a compulsory part of the curriculum. The official status of Irish “eclipses other languages in the school system” (ibid: 37).

3. Dublin respondents 12 Irish nationals 21 non-Irish nationals
Sample included monolinguals, bilingual, and plurilinguals
Aged between 18 and 35, residents of the city rather than visitors
Includes university graduates and non-university graduates, those currently in education as well as in a variety of occupations

4. Respondents by country of origin N=33
Ireland: 12
Brazil: 3
Cyprus: 1
France: 1
Germany: 1
Guatemala: 1
Holland: 2
India: 2
Italy: 4
Malta: 1
Romania: 1
Spain: 1
USA: 3

5. Respondents’ language repertoires
1 English, Irish, Bulgarian
2 Portuguese, English, Spanish
3 English
4 Italian, French, English
5 English, some Italian
6 English, Irish
7 Portuguese and English
8 Irish, English, French
9 English; A2 Spanish
10 English, Greek, German
11 English, German, very little Spanish
12 Italian, English, French, Spanish
13 English, Spanish, French
14 Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, English, German, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarathi, Rajasthani, Haryanvi, Bhojpuri
15 Italian, French, English
16 English, Spanish, American Sign Language
17 Dutch, English, Irish
18 German, Dutch and English
19 English, Irish
20 English
21 Portuguese, English
22 English, Spanish
23 Italian, English, French
25 English, small bit of French
25 Dutch and English fluent, Spanish, German and French beginner
26 French English Spanish
27 English, Spanish, French
28 English, French, German, Russian
29 English, Odia (Oriya), Hindi
30 Spanish, English
31 Romanian, English, French
32 English, Maltese, Italian
33 English, French

6. Final Q-Set
Dublin-specific Statements

7. Dublin Data Collection & Analysis
33 subjects
Two discourses/factors were extracted
Discourse 1 loaded significantly 23 Q-Sorts
Discourse 2 loaded significantly 10 Q-sorts
Similar distribution of the statements = similar understanding of the topic or viewpoint

8. Responses significantly clustered in the first factor share an openness towards all languages, independent of language status, with positive attitudes towards a multilingual Dublin which speaks the languages of its citizens.
Twenty-three respondents loaded significantly on Factor 1: 10 males and 11 females with an average age of 29 years.
The maximum level of education achieved was postgraduate (13), followed by undergraduate (5), secondary schools (4), and diploma or post-secondary school certificate (1).
Twelve of the respondents define their occupational status as studying full-time, ten as employed, one out of work but not currently seeking employment. Their linguistic repertoires included three languages (12), two languages (7), four languages (2), and one language (1).
Among the respondents, seven were Irish nationals and sixteen were non-Irish nationals.

9. Distinguishing statements for Discourse 1
The idea of a monolingual city is out of date
The multiple languages in the EU are a source of richness, a bridge for greater solidarity and mutual understanding. 4
Educational institutions here should support and promote minority languages
A multilingual city is one that delivers its services in the various languages of its citizens
The multilingual environment here turns our city into an attractive destination for investment
It is shameful that no foreign languages are included in our primary curriculum
There should always be multiple language options in ticket vending machines for public transport and other self-service machines. 2
All schools must ensure that the languages of minorities are represented in the school's environment in some way. 2
It would be good to provide free introductory classes to Asian, African or Middle Eastern languages so people could have the opportunity to learn very different languages 2
It's good to have English as a lingua franca, it facilitates international communication 2
There is a kind of elite multilingualism in Dublin where important European languages like French or German are valued more than the languages of the refugees who come here 1
It should be the duty of the city authorities to provide information on public services like health and education in the most common European languages. 1
If immigrants don't learn the national language they will be isolated from society
English is now a necessity: it is no longer just an advantage as a second language, but it is a must
Officials who deal with the general public really should be able to speak some Irish as well as English. 1
Travellers are a distinct ethnic group with a distinct culture and language that should be protected and promoted
For a more inclusive society, it is worth translating official documents into multiple languages, despite the costs involved. 0
English is a priority for all young people in European society
There should be subtitles on television for all foreign language programmes
People who come here should learn English - it's a necessity to survive in Dublin
Everyone should be entitled to first language education - the language of where they come from - in the public school system here in Dublin. 0
The fact that there are many languages spoken in Dublin represents a real challenge for those who work in its administrative offices. 0
There's a bit of artificiality around Irish, as most communication in Dublin is actually in English
Street signs should be provided in other languages as well as English and Irish
English should be the first choice as a foreign language in Europe
Educational institutions should protect the linguistic purity of our two languages, Irish and English
We should learn languages when we are young. It is too difficult later
It is possible for Dublin to become too multilingual
The emphasis on Irish in primary schools takes away time that could be spent learning other languages
When foreigners speak on the mobile phone in their language, they always seem to shout
The extensive use of English, especially in the media and advertisements, shows disrespect for Irish
It's annoying to have to comply with Irish language legislation, like having to put up a sign in both Irish and English instead of just English
The children of immigrants should speak English at home to make progress in learning the language
Allowing the use of different languages in classrooms to teach different subjects (e.g. multilingual teaching) would be an obstacle to learning English properly. -2
People who don't speak English should lose their entitlement to state benefits
I feel uncomfortable when I hear people speaking languages that I don't understand in the street or on public transport. -3
Distinguishing statements for Discourse 1

10. Factor 1 Items ranked at + 5 and +4
G1 +4 The idea of a monolingual city is out of date.
G28 +5 Knowing foreign languages opens us up to new ways of thinking.
G45 +4 The multiple languages in the EU are a source of richness, a bridge for greater solidarity and mutual understanding.
Items Ranked at -5 and -4
G17 -5 I don't need to speak any foreign languages in life.
G29 -4 Learning two languages simultaneously has a negative impact on the child.
G41 -4 Teachers should tell the children of migrants to stop speaking their own language at home, as it has a negative impact on children's ability to learn English.

11. Responses which were significantly clustered in factor 2 see English is as vital pragmatic reasons. There are no strong national ideologies. These responses show positive attitudes to elite multilingualism as well as to maintaining languages of immigrants and minorities at home and towards multilingual teaching.
Ten respondents loaded significantly on Factor 2: seven females and three males with an average age of years.
In terms of maximum education level, five reached a postgraduate level, and five undergraduate level. Six are studying full- time, three are employed, and one is self- employed.
Five of them stated a three-language linguistic repertoire, three reported two languages, one four languages, one five languages, and lastly, one reported speaking one language.
Four respondents were Irish nationals, and six respondents were non-Irish nationals.

12. Distinguishing statements for Discourse 2
English is now a necessity: it is no longer just an advantage as a second language, but it is a must. 4
People who come here should learn English - it's a necessity to survive in Dublin. 4
English should be the first choice as a foreign language in Europe
It's good to have English as a lingua franca, it facilitates international communication
If immigrants don't learn the national language they will be isolated from society. 3
It is shameful that no foreign languages are included in our primary curriculum
There's a bit of artificiality around Irish, as most communication in Dublin is actually in English. 2
The multiple languages in the EU are a source of richness, a bridge for greater solidarity and mutual understanding. 2
English is a priority for all young people in European society
We should learn languages when we are young. It is too difficult later
The multilingual environment here turns our city into an attractive destination for investment. 1
The idea of a monolingual city is out of date
Educational institutions here should support and promote minority languages. 1
A multilingual city is one that delivers its services in the various languages of its citizens. 1
It would be good to provide free introductory classes to Asian, African or Middle Eastern languages so people could have the opportunity to learn very different languages
It is possible for Dublin to become too multilingual
Educational institutions should protect the linguistic purity of our two languages, Irish and English. 0
Officials who deal with the general public really should be able to speak some Irish as well as English. 0
There is a kind of elite multilingualism in Dublin where important European languages like French or German are valued more than the languages of the refugees who come here
All schools must ensure that the languages of minorities are represented in the school's environment in some way. 0
There should always be multiple language options in ticket vending machines for public transport and other self-service machines. 0
For a more inclusive society, it is worth translating official documents into multiple languages, despite the costs involved. 0
The emphasis on Irish in primary schools takes away time that could be spent learning other languages. 0
Everyone should be entitled to first language education - the language of where they come from - in the public school system here in Dublin. -1
It should be the duty of the city authorities to provide information on public services like health and education in the most common European languages. -1
There should be subtitles on television for all foreign language programmes
When foreigners speak on the mobile phone in their language, they always seem to shout
The children of immigrants should speak English at home to make progress in learning the language
Allowing the use of different languages in classrooms to teach different subjects (e.g. multilingual teaching) would be an obstacle to learning English properly. -1
It's annoying to have to comply with Irish language legislation, like having to put up a sign in both Irish and English instead of just English. -1
Travellers are a distinct ethnic group with a distinct culture and language that should be protected and promoted
The fact that there are many languages spoken in Dublin represents a real challenge for those who work in its administrative offices. -2
I feel uncomfortable when I hear people speaking languages that I don't understand in the street or on public transport. -2
People who don't speak English should lose their entitlement to state benefits
The extensive use of English, especially in the media and advertisements, shows disrespect for Irish
Street signs should be provided in other languages as well as English and Irish
Distinguishing statements for Discourse 2

13. Factor 2 Items ranked at + 5 and +4
G12 +4 English is now a necessity: it is no longer just an advantage as a second language, but it is a must.
G28 +5 Knowing foreign languages opens us up to new ways of thinking.
G35 +4 People who come here should learn English - it's a necessity to survive in Dublin.
Items Ranked at -5 and -4
G17 -5 I don't need to speak any foreign languages in life.
G29 -4 Learning two languages simultaneously has a negative impact on the child.
G39 -4 School children here should only speak English during their break time.

15. Factor 1
Highly positive attitudes towards the vitality of urban multilingualism in general, and of Dublin in particular
They prioritise inclusion through language contact instead of exclusion though language and institutional dominance (Sachdev et al., 2012)
Respondents appear as ready to accommodate ethnolinguistic diversity by converging with the other languages because they see them as resources, independently of the level of their current visibility (Giles et al., 1977).
Langauges in public not only at home, languages merged with the city’s services and education
No prestige attached to any specific languages but acknowledged the language of the majority as means of communication

16. Factor Interpretation
Open towards all languages, regardless of language ‘status’, within a multilingual Dublin which speacks the languages of its citizens
G1 (+4): The monolingual city is out of date
‘Even small cities sometimes speak more than 1 dialect. People change and the communication is how they express so if the city keeps talking always on the same way it is if because is not changing or evolutioning’.
Comment of the Respondent 2, a 32 year old Brazilian female speaking Portuguese, English and Spanish, postgraduate-qualified and currently employed in Dublin

17. Factor 1
G37 (-3) People who don’t speak English should lose their entitlement to state benefits
‘State benefits are there to help with the most basic things, enough for food, shelter, and medical costs. Everyone should be entitled to these basic necessities no matter what language they speak(Respondent 5)
G45 (+4) The multiple languages of Europe’ as ‘a source of richness, a bridge for greater solidarity and mutual understanding’ (G45 +4)
Solidarity is most important during these difficult times and it also helps us to connect better with each other (Respondent 20)

18. Factor 2
English is prioritised above the overal linguistic diverisity of the city
Dogma for pragmatism, and so attaching economical value, but also bridging cultures
Assimilation through language
Linguistic diversity is seen as a structured system where English comes for first
However… Monolingual conservatism due to pragmatism (globalisation) and not to extreme nationalistic positions

19. Factor Interpretation
English is the dogma for pragmatic reasons, no strong national ideologies, perhaps elite multilingualism, languages of immigrants and minorities at home, multilingual teaching
G12 (+4) ‘English is now a necessity: it is no longer an advantage as a second language, but it is a must’
‘Who does not speak English is a person limited in 2016, in personal relationships because it can not interact with different cultures, and integration is problematic, but in the working field where if you do not know the…’.
Comment of the Respondent 15, a postgraduate Irish national studying full time, and a speaker of Irish, English, and French

20. Factor 2
G35 (+4): People who come here should learn English – it’s a necessity to survive in Dublin.
English is the language of government, business, entertainment, and education in Dublin. It would be foolish to move to Dublin and not learn English. (Respondent 11)
G20 (+3) If immigrants don’t learn the national language they will be isolated from society.
To integrate you need to learn the language and this should be pushed by the government otherwise you get ghettos as in Holland, Germany, Belgium and France. (Respondent 25)

21. Conclusion Both groups embrace linguistic diversity
They embrace lingistic diversity though to different extents
Languages are perceived as important assets, but differentiated in the way respondents conceptualise the role of languages in the context of multilingual Dublin
Factor 1 sees linguistic diversity as an asset for the future in which multilingualism is the image and identity of the city
Factor 2 engages with the linguistic diversity from the position of the dominant language for practical reasons

22. Thank You