Our Languages – Exploring, documenting, and celebrating linguistic diversity within the Bi-Co

About Our Project

Over the course of a semester, our class “Linguistic Diversity, Threats to Diversity, and Resistance” documented linguistic diversity within the Bi-Co. Through discussions about linguistic diversity, language ideologies, and linguistic discrimination, we created this project, Our Languages. This site is designed to not only raise awareness about linguistic diversity but celebrate the linguistic diversity that exists on Haverford and Bryn Mawr’s campuses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlRvBRJhtlk

Linguistic Diversity

Diversity on a college campus is incomplete if it does not consider the entire array of languages used by the college’s population. While English is often the dominant language in a classroom context, non-English languages still permeate the college atmosphere. This project is focused on illuminating the wide breadth of languages that exist (sometimes in hidden ways) within Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College. In doing so, we hope to address and reduce the discrimination that exists against non-English languages.

Our Intentions

The main intention of this project is to validate and promote respect for all languages and dialects. We hope this project challenges preconceived notions of what’s “right” and “wrong” in language and how these judgments reinforce societal inequality. Often, the insistence on the so-called “correct” way of communicating reveals deep prejudice that can go unrecognized. We seek to combat these harmful language ideologies and linguistic discrimination by bringing them to the forefront of discussion, allowing the Bi-Co to work toward a more welcoming and diverse environment on campus and beyond.