Article published in:
Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 38:2 (2014) ► pp. 128–148

Language policies in the Kingdom of Hawai‘i

Reassessing linguicism

| Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament d’Ensenyament
This paper develops Tove Skutnabb-Kangas’ concept of linguicism by distinguishing an effectuative stage and a reproductive stage of linguistic inequality. The effectuative stage is described by inference and compared with Robert Phillipson’s theory of linguistic imperialism, and it is suggested that both frameworks are still missing empirical validation for the claim that language inequality may create other forms of inequality, and that such validation should come from historical data. To demonstrate this, language policies in the Kingdom of Hawai‘i during the 19th century are examined, with emphasis on the interpretation of bilingual statutory law, along with a number of judicial rulings. These are then related to changes in the economic sphere and the interaction is demonstrated in the curtailing of customary land use rights. The new concept of non-discriminatory linguicism is introduced to describe the presence of linguicist ideologies without concomitant discriminatory practices as a key feature of the effectuative stage of linguicism, and a new definition of linguicism is proposed.
Keywords: linguicism, Hawai‘i, linguistic imperialism, language and law, colonialism, spread of English
Published online: 12 September 2014
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.38.2.02fer
References
Brutt-Griffler, J
(2002) Class, ethnicity, and language rights: An analysis of British colonial policy in Lesotho and Sri Lanka and some implications for language policy. Journal of Language, Identity and Education, 1(3), 207–234. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Canagarajah, A.S
(1999) Resisting linguistic imperialism in English teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Davies, A
(1996) Ironising the myth of linguicism: Review article. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 171, 485–496. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Daws, G
(1968) Shoal of time: A history of the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii.Google Scholar
Day, R
(1985) The ultimate inequality: Linguistic genocide. In N. Wolfson & J. Manes (Eds.), Language of inequality (pp. 163-181). Berlin: Mouton. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Hanifin, P
(2001) To dwell on the Earth in unity: Rice, Arakaki, and the growth of citizenship and voting rights in Hawaii. Hawaiian Bar Journal, 5(13), 15–44.Google Scholar
Hymes, D
(1985) Preface. In N. Wolfson & J. Manes (Eds.), Language of inequality (pp. v-viii). Berlin: Mouton.Google Scholar
Kachru, B
(1985) Standards, codification and sociolinguistic realism: The English language in the outer circle. In R. Quirk & H. Widdowson (Eds),. English in the world: Teaching and learning the language and literatures (pp. 11-30). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
(1986) The alchemy of English: The spread, functions, and models of non-native Englishes. Oxford: Pergamon.Google Scholar
Kameʻeleihiwa, L
(1992) Native land and foreign desires: How shall we live in harmony?/= Ko Hawaiʻi ʻāina a Me Nā Koi Puʻumake a Ka Poʻe Haole: Pehea Lā E Pono Ai? Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.Google Scholar
Kelly, M
(1980) Land tenure in Hawaii. Amerasian Journal, 7(2), 57–73. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Kimura, L
(1985) Language section of Native Hawaiians Study Commission Report. Report on the Culture, Needs and Concerns of Native Hawaiians Pursuant to Public Law 96-565, Title III (pp. 173-224). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Kuykendall, R
(1938) The Hawaiian Kingdom: Foundation and transformation. Honolulu: University of Hawaii.Google Scholar
Lam, M
(1985) The imposition of Anglo-American land tenure law on Hawaiians. Journal of Legal Pluralism & Unofficial Law, 231, 103–128. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Lind, A
(1938) An island community: Ecological succession in Hawaii. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Lydecker, R., & Territory of Hawaii
(1918) Roster Legislatures of Hawaii, 1841-1918: Constitutions of Monarchy and Republic, Speeches of Sovereigns and President. Honolulu: Hawaiian Gazette Co.Google Scholar
Lysandrou, P., & Lysandrou, Y
(2003) Global English and proregression: Understanding English language spread in the contemporary era. Economy and Society, 32(2), 207–233. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Miles, R
(1989) Racism. London; New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Osorio, J
(1996) Determining self: Identity, nationhood and constitutional government in Hawai’i, 1842-188. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Hawai’i.Google Scholar
Parijs, P. van
(2011) Linguistic justice for Europe and for the World. New York: Oxford University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Pennycook, A
(2007) ELT and colonialism. In J. Cummins & C. Davison (Eds.), International handbook of English language teaching (pp. 13-24). New York: Springer. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Phillipson, R
(1992) Linguistic imperialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Plamenatz, J
(1954) German Marxism and Russian communism. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar
Reinecke, J
(1988) Language and dialect in Hawaii: A sociolinguistic history to 1935. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.Google Scholar
Schmitt, R
(1977) Historical statistics of Hawaii. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii.Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T
(1988) Multilingualism and the education of minority children. In J. Cummins & T. Skutnabb-Kangas (Eds.), Minority education: From shame to struggle (pp. 9-44). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
(1990) Legitimating or delegitimating new forms of racism: The role of researchers. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 11(1/2), 77–100. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
(2000) Linguistic genocide in education, or worldwide diversity and human rights? Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
(2010) Education of indigenous and minority children. In J. Fishman & O. García (Eds.), Handbook of language and ethnic identity: Disciplinary and regional perspectives (pp. 186-203). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. & McCarty, T
(2008) Key concepts in bilingual education: Ideological, historical, epistemological and empirical foundations. Encyclopedia of language and education (Vol. 51) (pp. 1466–1482). xxxx CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Stauffer, R
(2004) Kahana: How the land was lost. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press.Google Scholar
(1990) Land tenure in Kahana, Hawaiʻi, 1846-1920. Unpublished Ph.D.dissertation, University of Hawaiʻi.Google Scholar
Stevens, S
(1968) American expansion in Hawaii, 1842-1898. New York: Russell and Russell.Google Scholar
Stover, J
(1997) The legacy of the 1848 Māhele and Kuleana Act of 1850: A case study of the Lāʻie Wai and Lāʻie Maloʻo ahupuaʻa, 1846-1930. Unpublished M.A. thesis, University of Hawai’i.Google Scholar
Tetley, W
(2000) Mixed jurisdictions: Common law v. civil law (Codified and Uncodified). Louisiana Law Review, 60(3), 677–738.Google Scholar