美国语言冲突的制度化考察

On the Institutionalization of Language Conflicts in the U.S

语言冲突产生于语言利益的差异与对立。美国语言冲突的原因在于主导群体利用语言政策作为同化其他族裔、攫取物质利益和维持其优势地位的工具,作为族群竞争的代理和社会控制的机制。文章在介绍制度因素的基础上,利用斯科特的基于回报递增、基于承诺递增和基于日益客观化等三项制度化框架,分析美国语言冲突的制度化过程。

Language conflicts arise from the difference and confrontation of language interests.The underlying cause of language conflicts in the U.S.lies in that the dominant group uses language policy as an instrument to assimilate other ethnic groups,to exploit material interests and to preserve its dominant position,and uses it as the proxy for intergroup competition and as mechanisms of social control.This paper,on the basis of institution elements analysis,employs W.Richard Scott's mechanisms of institutionalization,increasing returns-based,increasing commitments-based and increasing objectification to analyze the institutionalized phases of language conflicts in the U.S.