Kieli ja osallisuuden eri ulottuvuudet Suomessa asuvien ulkomaalaistaustaisten diskursseissa
Language and the various dimensions of inclusion in the discourses of migrants living in Finland
Keywords:
discourses, ideologies, inclusion, migrantsAbstract
This article examines how inclusion is constructed in the discourses of migrants living in Finland. In the article, inclusion is discussed in relation to the concepts of integration and belonging. It is argued that inclusion, language and social structure are tied together through interaction. Drawing on data from pair conversations among migrants, the article focuses on the ways in which the participants speak about different dimensions of inclusion: concrete, abstract and solidary, and how these ways of speaking reflect language ideologies. The findings show that the concrete dimension of inclusion is depicted as requirements to learn Finnish and as tightly connected to the everyday context. Abstract inclusion implies the overall importance of language in human life and emphasizes the key role of language in crossing societal boundaries, and the solidary dimension emphasizes the reciprocity of language. The findings illustrate the participants’ willingness to make an effort to participate in society.
