Language biases and implicit attitudes among university students in Galicia (Spain)

Abstract

This study aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on the role of language attitudes in Galicia (Spain). By means of a mixed methodological approach, we investigate the interrelation between 168 university students’ Implicit Association Test (IAT) results towards Galician Spanish (GS) and Traditional Galician (TG), and their sociolinguistic background. The study found complex interrelations of various factors. Family language and everyday language appeared to play a prominent role in determining the implicit language attitudes towards both languages. Proficiency in Galician was the only other factor that significantly contributed to the development of positive attitudes towards TG, while having Spanish as the L-1 was identified asa key factor in the formation of positive attitudes towards GS. Unlike previous research on explicit attitudes, place of living (rural vs urban) is not associated with (implicit) language attitude formation. Notably, political orientation arises as a relevant factor that should be addressed in future research.