Social Cohesion? – The Paradox of Language
Mittwoch, 22.04.2026, 18:15 Uhr
| Veranstaltende: | Collegium generale |
|---|---|
| Referierende: | Prof. Dr. Alexandre Duchêne, Sociologie du langage, Université de Fribourg |
| Datum: | 22.04.2026 |
| Uhrzeit: | 18:15 - 19:45 Uhr |
| Ort: |
Auditorium maximum, Raum 110 Hauptgebäude Hochschulstrasse 4 3012 Bern |
| Anmeldung: | Keine Anmeldung erforderlich |
| Merkmale: |
Öffentlich kostenlos |
Abstract
Language is widely assumed to be a key driver of social cohesion. It is expected to secure mutual understanding in multilingual societies and to provide migrants with a pathway to inclusion. In this sense, language is often positioned as a central pillar of integration.
This talk complicates this assumption. Language does not operate as a straightforward basis for cohesion. Its effects are shaped by the social conditions in which it is mobilized, and linguistic competence alone does not determine access to participation or resources. Linguistic differences – whether in accent, style, or repertoire – are mobilized within broader processes that produce and sustain social distinctions.
The paradox of language lies precisely in this dual role: it can facilitate access to resources while simultaneously legitimizing exclusion. Rather than treating language as the primary locus of social cohesion, this talk proposes a critical decentering that foregrounds the broader social processes in which language is embedded and instrumentalized. This shift makes it possible to understand social cohesion as a process that is unevenly produced, rather than naturally achieved through language.