A SOCIOLINGUISTICS ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE STEREOTYPES PORTRAYED IN ENGLISH VINGLISH MOVIE

Abstract

The present study analyzes the English language stereotypes represented in the Indian movie English Vinglish from a sociolinguistic perspective. The film gives a rich narrative about the pervasiveness of stereotypes on English language proficiency within Indian society. These stereotypes, as depicted through character dialogues, associate English with high social class status, intelligence, and modernity and often result in marginalization for those who lack fluency. This research paper examines these stereotypes from the viewpoint of sociolinguistics by drawing on theories proposed by Labov (1972), Bourdieu (1991), and, more recently, the Stereotype Content Model advanced by Fiske, Cuddy, and Glick (2007). Furthermore, the analysis is performed at macro and micro levels of sociolinguistics in order to unravel the processes by which language competence determines social perception, identity formation, and class distinction. One of the key findings is that English proficiency is primarily seen as a sign of higher social status and that individuals who strictly follow language norms are marginalized. Moreover, the study also assesses how popular media contributes to the perpetuation of these stereotypes by highlighting them. Hence, the present study advocates for an inclusive approach to linguistic diversity within sociolinguistics and provides essential insights into the interplay of language, power, and identity in a non-Western setting.