Language uses and ideology: How do Valencian university students behave?

Abstract

Abstract: The paper analyses the relationship between the ideology of university students from the region of Valencia and their linguistic behaviour. Apart from the traditional right-left wing political scale, the required self-defining ideology includes national-regional identity and opinion on the unity of the Catalan (i.e. whether Valencian is considered part of Catalan or a different language). These are issues of ideological dispute more or less explicitly present in the Valencian society. Language uses are also plural and diverse. In fact, it is worth analysing the correlation between the uses related to habitual behaviour or to a context of proximity and uses which are more intentional or are activated in secondary, non-proximal relationships. It is within the latter that ideology can play a more determining role.

Key words: language choice, ideology, identity, students, Valencia.