From Affirmed Privilege to Experiences of Discrimination: Majority Anglophones' Perceptions of Linguistic Majority-Minority Dynamics in Canada

This paper explores the rarely addressed subject of linguistic majority in the context of Canadian society, through a qualitative analysis of 20 semi-directed interviews with majority Anglophone participants. It was found that while participants acknowledged a certain form of privilege related to their majority status within Canadian society, it was also common for them to experience situations in which they felt overlooked, marginalized and even discriminated against. "Linguistic privilege" has not been the subject of more studies because it is often seen as a "default", taken-for-granted status in Canadian society. However, studying this form of privilege and its intersections with other dimensions of identity such as gender, class and race could lead to new insights on language, power and group identity. Moreover, studies on "the majority" are especially pertinent in a context where "silent majorities" are becoming increasingly vocal in stating their dissatisfaction and feelings of discrimination. This article can provide pathways to a better understanding of this emergent issue. Resume: Le «privilege linguistique» est un concept peu exploite dans la litterature scientifique, puisqu'etre anglophone en situation majoritaire constitue le statu quo de l'identite canadienne. Pourtant, l'etude de cette forme possible de privilege et de ses intersections avec d'autres categories sociales telles que la classe, le genre et la race s'avere un terreau tres fertile pour l'analyse des liens entre la langue, le pouvoir et l'identite de groupe. Cet article s'interesse au sujet peu documente de la majorite linguistique au Canada a l'aide d'une analyse qualitative de 20 entretiens semi-diriges realises aupres d'individus anglophones en situation majoritaire. Nos resultats montrent que bien que les participants reconnaissaient leur statut privilegie au sein de la societe canadienne, ces derniers pouvaient egalement vivre des situations dans lesquelles ils se sentaient invisibles et marginalises, voire discrimines. De plus, les etudes «sur la majorite» sont particulierement pertinentes dans le contexte sociopolitique actuel ou les «majorites silencieuses» prennent parole pour denoncer leur insatisfaction et leurs sentiments d'injustice.