Ethnolinguistic vitality, attitudes, and networks of linguistic contact: the case of the Israeli Arab minority

Perceptions of ethnolinguistic vitality measured by the Subjective Vitality Questionnaire (SVQ) have been used to study ethnic group differences & their implications for intergroup relations. Recently, studies have related vitality perceptions to other language behaviors & attitudes. Examined here is vitality perception in an Israeli Arab sample in relation to 3 sets of variables: (1) attitudes toward Arabic & Hebrew, (2) attitudes toward speakers of Arabic & Hebrew, & (3) networks of linguistic contact in Hebrew. Israeli Arab students (N = 150) completed questionnaires measuring these variables, including an Arabic version of the SVQ. Results indicate that vitality perceptions were related to attitudes toward the target group & target language, & to individual networks of linguistic contact. The validity of the SVQ as a measure of intra- & intergroup differences is supported. 3 Tables, 1 Appendix, 31 References. B. Annesser Murray