A Cross-National Study of Young People’s Attitudes

Abstract

In this chapter I will discuss some of the findings from sociolinguistic research undertaken at two university institutions in Ireland’s and Galicia’s largest cities, Dublin and Vigo respectively. In the study, a total of 815 Irish and 725 Galician respondents completed a self- administered sociolinguistic questionnaire¹⁰ which included a range of attitudinal statements and questions on different aspects relating to the Galician and Irish languages, their use and speakers. The sample was stratified according to the four main academic disciplines offered at each university which included students pursing degree courses in the areas of humanities, technology, business and science. Insights were also gained into certain aspects of the survey through the triangulation of the quantitative data in-depth interviews and group discussions with a smaller number of students.