Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Multiculturalism in Contemporary America: The Role of Foreign Language Fluency

• Main Author: Emanuel Alvarado
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: North Carolina Sociological Association 2009-10-01
• Series: Sociation Today
• Subjects: immigration; multiculturalism
• Online Access: http://www.ncsociology.org/sociationtoday/v72/attitude.htm

Drawing from sociological research seeking to explain variation in attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy, it is found that knowledge and proficiency in a language other than English is associated with more favorable views towards immigrants and towards multiculturalism in contemporary America. Alvarado reviews the literature on sociological research on immigrant attitudes, explores the nexus between foreign language learning and appreciation for foreign culture(s), and presents the methodology and analysis used to test the strength of the association between knowledge in a foreign language and favorable views towards immigrants and multiculturalism in the United States.