The use of home languages in public can attract discrimination in times of conflict but it is a fundamental human right, write Monash University academics Dr Katrina Tour and A/P Marianne Turner

In Australia, we are very proud of being multicultural. However, one in three Australians (36%) from non-English speaking backgrounds still reports experiences of discrimination. Discussions around discrimination typically focus on appearance, ethnicity and religion and these are all very important. Another form of discrimination relates to language.

Particularly in urban areas, it is easy to assume that multilingualism is a norm and people can freely use their home languages in all spaces – with children in the playground, with partners in a restaurant and with a friend when shopping together. A lot of the time, there is no problem with this. People are left alone to live their life and to do their thing. Sometimes they might be asked where they are from. This can be a harmless question born of curiosity, a desire to categorise people as this or that, or a genuine interest in other cultures and places in the world.

However, at other times, ‘Where are you from?’ can be a much more ‘loaded’ question. Moments of tension can arise, revealing how people make assumptions based on language use. One such moment occurred unexpectedly for the author (Katrina) and her friend in a busy shopping centre. A random woman, hearing them speaking Russian, approached them in an aggressive way, demanding to know where they were from, telling them it was the ‘same sh*t’ that they were Belarusian, asking what they thought of the war, and finally saying ‘speak English and f*ck you all’.

This kind of exchange is sadly common for many migrants and refugees, both adults, young people and children, living in Australia. So why does this happen? What impact does this have on people? Importantly, how to react and cope?

Language as a target during times of conflict

Conflicts can evoke strong emotions such as fear, anger, frustration and hatred. These feelings often extend to languages associated with the opposing side. As such, language often becomes a target because people may associate a language with the enemy and direct anger toward those who speak it. For example, during the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian speakers in various parts of the world have faced harassment, regardless of their personal views or nationality.

This narrow idea that speaking a language makes someone responsible for the actions of a group or country is linked to the belief that one language belongs to one country. Interestingly, many people do not think of English in this way. However, the less people know about the history and spread of a particular language, the more they are likely to assume that it ‘belongs’ to a dominant country or group who speak the language.

A very deeply-held ‘monolingual’ belief that we ‘are’ the language we speak is difficult to shake. However, it puts multilingual people in a difficult position. If people are multilinguals, do they need to choose who they are? Usually, they do not even get the choice. Asking people where they are from is a way to identify their ethnicity, culture, or nationality and you may not get away with saying the suburb where you live!

Impact on people and society

In times of tension or conflict people can be singled out and discriminated against based on their appearance, or visible difference. This kind of discrimination is terrible and very difficult to avoid; for example, the discrimination against people of Asian heritage that worsened in different parts of the world, including Australia, during the COVID pandemic.

On the other hand, getting blamed for a conflict because of a language you speak at home is something you can avoid by speaking English. If people hear an accent different from the local accent and ask where you are from, you can distract them or walk away. You can choose not to speak the language in question so as not to draw attention to yourself.

However, this latter option is a slippery slope, especially for children who are already getting the implicit message everywhere they go in Australia that English is the only real language they need. Being mocked or judged for speaking a home language can cause a deep sense of shame and insecurity because people begin to believe that their language or accent is inherently inferior. They feel like they do not belong and are not valued.

Such negative emotions can encourage people to disconnect from their heritage. Over time, this disconnection can manifest as a reluctance or even resistance to engage with cultural practices, traditions and language. As a result, home language maintenance becomes more difficult: families may feel pressured to stop using language with their children, which can weaken family bonds as well as steal opportunities for learning language and culture.

Such emotions also affect connection to one’s community. When people feel ashamed or excluded because of their language, they may withdraw from social interactions as they fear judgment or rejection. It is damaging for people from migrant and refugee backgrounds as it prevents them from building and extending social networks, accessing resources, and fully participating in the life of their new society.

Such emotions are also damaging for Australian society as a whole, as they undermine the nation’s multicultural ethos. When people are made to feel unwelcome because of their language, it creates barriers to mutual understanding and social cohesion. This not only limits the potential for people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to contribute to society but also makes it harder for communities to live together. Ultimately, it will diminish the richness and strength of Australia’s multicultural fabric.

Language as a human right

Language is a fundamental human right. International frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as Australian multicultural policy framework, including the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986, affirm that individuals and communities have the right to use, maintain, and develop languages freely, without discrimination or suppression. 

These protections are especially vital during times of war or crisis, when language can become a target. It is essential to recognise that language is a means of communication and cultural expression—not a marker of political allegiance or of an identity as dictated by someone else.

Helping children in particular to take pride in their language and continue speaking it even when someone questions its value or associates it with the conflict is important. It is equally important to remind people who feel the need to discriminate against people that language is a fundamental human right. We all have the right to speak the languages we choose without answering to strangers for making these choices. Even if the message is not fully absorbed in the moment, hopefully, it will plant a seed of awareness that may grow into greater understanding over time.