Notes on ‘Contemporary Bilingualism, Llanito and Language Policy in Gibraltar: a Study with a Present-day View of Linguistic Challenges

Abstract

Contemporary Bilingualism, Llanito and Language Policy in Gibraltar: A Study highlights some important language issues in Gibraltar and other multilingual communities, such as minority languages, their survival, and the simultaneous preservation of local identity and proficiency in majority languages. Brexit conversations regarding Gibraltar, and to a lesser extent Covid-19 restrictions, may have an effect on language and linguistic sensibilities on the Rock, by either allowing a greater movement of people and languages, or by limiting them. The status of English as one of the EU’s official languages may be called into question post-Brexit. Gibraltar’s language policy is unlikely to change to a bilingual one if local identity is threatened. It is ultimately an individual choice of whether to preserve bilingualism among family and friends, or to consolidate native monolingualism and the image of Britishness.

Keywords

• minority languages
• llanito
• brexit
• identity
• bilingualism