Linguistic Racism and Discrimination in Higher Education

While many universities worldwide increasingly focus on equity and diversity issues, experiences of linguistic racism and discrimination in higher education (HE) are still too often overlooked. In this chapter, we first discuss the origins and characteristics of linguistic discrimination, drawing on a range of theoretical frameworks, such as critical race theory, language ideologies, raciolinguistics, and linguistic racism. We then situate this work in specific relation to HE—particularly, though not exclusively, in relation to English language-dominant institutions—and examine the often-negative impact of discriminatory monoglossic language policies and practices on bi/multilingual students and faculty therein. We conclude by discussing nascent institutional responses that aim to foster more heteroglossic implementational spaces and strategies within HE, which raise awareness of, and the need to address, linguistic discrimination in HE.