The Power of Language

Refugee Settlement in Canada

Abstract

The purpose for participating in the project Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Global Refugee Crisis was to get a better understanding of why there is a Global Refugee Crisis, how welcoming the refugees might impact our intercultural practice as future Social Workers. Based on the educational forums and the online postings discussion we learned that language as part of the Refugees’ difficult journey continue to represent some barriers when landing in Canada. Our presentation is therefore exploring what we called the power of language – what power of language are we using to welcome the refugees? There is a universal language we all understand which is being gracious, kind and welcoming. However, there is also a language of fear, hatred and misunderstanding. The power of language focuses on how power imbalance in society is realized through language, specifically on the role of language in producing and maintaining oppressive and unequal relationships. We acknowledge in our poster the different languages already present in Canada and those that refugees are bringing to show that the language culture in the everyday life experiences for many of these refugees in Canada go beyond the bilingualism culture. From a micro level, we do believe that community connection can help newcomers establish social networks. Partnerships, promotions and planning sessions allow the community connections and bring diverse organizations together to welcome refugees in their local community, to overcome the hassles of refugees. And not but the last our acceptance that the languages that Refugees are bringing with them might break many of the barriers, we represented in our second poster, to make place for conviviality.

Discipline: Social Work

Faculty mentor: Dr. Valerie Ouedraogo