The power of language: Exploring the relationship between linguistic capital and occupation for immigrants to Canada

Abstract

Our study examines the power of language in shaping immigrants’ engagement in occupations during their integration into a host society. Beyond serving as a means of communication, language is understood as a form of capital that is mediated through social power relations. We used a qualitative secondary analysis methodology that adopted an occupation-focused perspective to study 20 transcripts generated through narrative and semi-structured interviews with 10 immigrants in a mid-sized Canadian city. ‘Learning English’ was identified as the overarching theme that connected to the sub-themes of accessing resources during settlement, economic integration, social and cultural integration and isolation, and family. Findings illustrate specific ways that the mediation of engagement in occupations through the host society’s dominant language creates challenges for immigrants’ integration experiences. Ultimately, the dominance of English in Canada poses barriers to engagement in needed and wanted occupations for immigrants who do not possess this valued linguistic capital.