Language Perceptions and Identity Responses to linguistic microaggressions from one community’s conversation

Abstract

Linguistic microagressions have been identified as creating hostile learning environments on university campuses.  Solutions to dealing with linguistic microaggressions often focus on the hearer. In this paper, we report on a gathering of 65 faculty, staff and students to discuss microagressions in a model of how a diverse group can gather to address cultural problems in the community.  We report on how to structure such a group to best address the problems of linguistic microaggressions from the perspective of both speakers and hearers.  Instructors can apply this model of group discussion to classroom activities, and faculty developers can apply this model to faculty and staff awareness building sessions.