Abstract: This paper examines the interrelated yet separate ideas of ethnic diversity, cultural diversity, and linguistic diversity and the identities associated with these concepts. Ethnic diversity refers to individuals with common ancestry, ethnicity, or nationality, whereas cultural diversity refers to a society's diverse cultural practices, beliefs, and values. Linguistic variety refers to the occurrence of multiple languages in a society. These concepts frequently overlap, causing misunderstanding, although they can also exist separately. This interaction becomes especially apparent in the context of globalisation and increased international interactions. This study will disentangle these ideas by showing their inherent overlaps and distinctive features. It highlights the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) values in modern organisations.
Keywords: Ethnic Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Linguistic Variety, Identity, Globalisation, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Organisational Culture.
The concepts of ethnic diversity, cultural diversity, and linguistic variety are interconnected but separate. Ethnic diversity refers to individuals with a common ancestral, ethnic, or national heritage. In contrast, cultural diversity refers to various cultural practices, beliefs, and values within a society or community. Frequently, confusion between these identities results from their overlapping characteristics. However, each identity emphasises distinct facets of a person's sense of self and belonging.
Ethnic identity is associated with a shared origin and frequently includes cultural traditions and customs, religious beliefs and traditions, and a shared geographical location. It is associated with a common ancestry and history, which includes similar historical events and customs. In contrast to cultural identification, which may be accepted or altered more easily, ethnic identity is frequently viewed as more fixed and innate, as it depends primarily on one's ancestry and heritage. However, it is essential to note that ethnic identities can also be fluid and variable, based on an individual's experiences and self-perception.
Cultural identity refers to an individual's affiliation with a specific cultural group. It is influenced by several elements, including nationality, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic class, generation, and locale. [[2] (National Geographic)Cultural Identity] Cultural identity involves shared qualities such as language, food, social behaviours, art, literature, and music that a group of people shares. This identity can vary and develop through time owing to societal shifts, personal growth, and intercultural encounters, among other factors.
Cultural identity also refers to identification with and acceptance into a community with similar systems of symbols and meanings as well as norms of behaviour Culture covers many components, including values, beliefs, norms, language, practices, and traditions. These are the shared features of a group of people, including birthplace, religion, language, cuisine, social behaviours, art, literature, and music.
Individuals' linguistic identities are related to the language(s) they speak or identify with. Language is a component of both ethnic and cultural identity. Still, it can also stand on its own as a kind of identity, as it can serve as a marker of belonging to a particular community or nation, regardless of ethnic or cultural identification.
There is confusion since these identities frequently overlap. Due to the shared heritage, traditions, and language of an ethnic group, a person's ethnic identification may impact their cultural and linguistic identities. However, they are also capable of existing independently. A person may, for example, identify with a culture that is distinct from their ethnic background, or they may speak and identify with a language that is distinct from the one most prevalent in their culture or ethnicity. In addition, the globalisation process and increased international encounters have further blurred the distinctions between these identities [[4] (ResearchGate, 2015)Cultural, racial/ethnic, and linguistic variety and identity].
Cultural diversity involves a spectrum of cultural practises and beliefs that can be conveyed through language, therefore including both ethnic diversity and linguistic diversity. It is crucial to note that Australia, for instance, has several long-established ethnic communities. Yet, they are not considered culturally varied because they only converse in English and have lost their native spoken language due to assimilation.
Linguistic diversity is significant because it permits the transmission of information and knowledge encoded in distinct sociocultural, political, and economic settings. Moreover, linguistic diversity is related to biological and cultural diversity. In contrast, cultural diversity is necessary for social transformation and human development. Cultural diversity is tied to various variables, such as population demographics of cultural, ethnic, racial, and linguistic traits, family structure and living arrangements, and the impact of socioeconomic conditions on families and service delivery.
Language is not a defining feature of ethnic variety, although it can play a significant role in the formation and maintenance of ethnic identity forming and maintaining. Ethnic identification refers to the subjective experience of belonging to an ethnic community, which may comprise the learner's ancestral ethnic group plus one or more communities of the target language. People may choose to express their ethnic or national identity through a particular language, and this decision may vary based on the audience and social situation. Language usage can be a component of the behavioural level of ethnic identification and may contribute to "acting" a certain way, such as "acting French". It may the role of ethnic identification inare language use, attitudes, and stereotypes is examined. Furthermore, language is culturally transmitted, and children acquire it primarily through learning, but parents and other language models may also teach them [[6] (Britannica)].
Ethnic identification refers to the subjective experience of belonging to an ethnic community, which may comprise the learner's ancestral ethnic group plus one or more communities of the target language. Language is not a defining feature of ethnic variety, although it can play a significant role in forming and maintaining ethnic identity. People may choose to express their ethnic or national identity through a specific language, and this decision may vary based on the audience and social situation. Language usage can be a component of the behavioural level of ethnic identification and may contribute to "acting" a certain way, such as "acting French.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become essential values for organisations to promote to achieve their objectives [(McKinsey)]. Among the DEI values is promoting diversity in terms of colour, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, and beyond. In contrast, cultural plurality refers to the range of cultural practises, beliefs, and values within a society or group of individuals. This can include linguistic, cultural, religious, and racial variety, which are at the forefront of diversity in most nations. Organisations must ensure that their policies and practises reflect the significance of diversity and inclusion by establishing diversity targets, committing to hiring diverse individuals, and encouraging staff to engage in difficult conversations. Organisations need to welcome diversity because it generates new ideas and unlocks creativity.
Conclusion: despite their similarities, ethnic variety, cultural diversity, and linguistic diversity are separate concepts. Cultural diversity refers to various cultural practices, beliefs, and values within a society or group. Linguistic variety is the presence of multiple languages within a society or organisation, which is essential for disseminating information and knowledge.
References:
McKinsey. (2022, August 17). What is diversity, equity, and inclusion? McKinsey Explainers. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
ResearchGate. (2020, January 1). Understanding Cultural Diversity and Diverse Identities. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335608907_Understanding_Cultural_Diversity_and_Diverse_Identities
American Political Science Review. (2010, November 17). Economic versus Cultural Differences: Forms of Ethnic Diversity and Public Goods Provision. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/economic-versus-cultural-differences-forms-of-ethnic-diversity-and-public-goods-provision/1A668817F0A20FE9FF613B2247654A0E
UCLA Anderson. (2017). Culture, Ethnicity, and Diversity. https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty_pages/romain.wacziarg/downloads/2017_culture.pdf Springer. (2016, June 22). Cultural, Ethnic, and Linguistic Diversity. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-28492-7_24
Difference Between. (2011, August 25). Difference Between Cultural and Ethnic. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-cultural-and-vs-ethnic/
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