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The representation of immigrant characters in Catalan as a second language textbooks: a critical discourse analysis perspective – Dialnet

09 febr. 2018

Origen: The representation of immigrant characters in Catalan as a second language textbooks: a critical discourse analysis perspective – Dialnet

  • Localización: Lengua y migración = Language and migration, ISSN 1889-5425, Vol. 9, Nº. 2, 2017, págs. 61-75
  • This paper examines the representations of immigrant characters in Catalan as a Second Language textbooks for adults. We aim to identify differences in portraying what we call Western and non-Western immigrants, applying the theory and procedures of critical discourse analysis. Firstly, we investigate how immigrant characters� identity is shaped in textbooks by social class, age and gender. Secondly, we focus on the way in which immigrant characters with a major presence in textbooks are portrayed, through the analysis of immigrant stories. This study reveals that Western newcomers are always portrayed as part of the upper/middle class while non-Westerners are represented as working class members. On the other hand, non-Western immigrants are characterized by physical or gender stereotypes, while Western immigrants have positive attributes. We also found an idyllic representation of reality, together with an absence of cultural comparisons or information about immigrant countries of origin.