Language and Ethnicity Representation

The representation of ethnicity through language is one of the most politically charged and analytically important topics in A-Level English Language. Language does not merely describe ethnic groups — it constructs how they are perceived, positioned, and valued within society. This lesson examines how language represents ethnicity, the key linguistic and critical frameworks for analysis, and the ongoing debates around political correctness and semantic reclamation.

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Key Concepts: Race, Ethnicity, and Language

Term	Definition
Race	A social construct that categorises people based on perceived physical characteristics such as skin colour. Biologically, the concept of distinct human "races" has been discredited by modern genetics
Ethnicity	A broader concept encompassing shared cultural heritage, language, history, religion, and traditions
Racialised language	Language that constructs, reinforces, or challenges racial categories and hierarchies

The critical linguist Teun van Dijk (1987, 1993) has demonstrated that language plays a central role in the reproduction of racism. His work on news discourse shows how the media systematically constructs ethnic minorities as problems, threats, or outsiders through specific linguistic strategies.