DEFINITION LANGUAGE ATTITUDE

1. Definition of attitude and language attitude It has been established a

long ago that the way we speak influences what kind of impressions
the listeners get about us. These impressions attitudes are,
however, difficult to define. This means that we all have some idea of
what an attitude is, for example, I can say that I have a positive
attitude towards working during weekends when actually I mean that I
think that I should work during weekends, I like the busy hours during
weekends or I think that I can benefit from working during weekends.
Thus in everyday speech we use the term attitude quite freely to refer
to opinions, ideas, conceptions, beliefs and attitudes that we have
towards objects, ideas or people. As Eiser (1986: 11)
2. Language attitudes are actually the feelings people have about their own language or
the languages of others, and further defined, as an individuals psychological
construction regarding their own language and/or the languages of others (see
Crystal in imek et al. 2007: 1).
3. FASOLD 1984 IS event futher broadened ,it can allow all kinds
concerning language maintenance and planning efforts

of behavior

COMPONENTS
A three-component model of attitude (Baker 1992: 13) The three-component
model of attitudes can be explained by the definition of Rosenberg and
Hovland (1960: 3, as quoted by Eiser 1986: 53), according to
1. ATTITUDE
2. COGNITION
3. AFFECT READINESS FOR ACTION
Menurut lambert 1976 : 126312021 0596
The cognitive components refers to an individuals belief structure
The effective to emotional reactions and the conative components
comprehends the the tendency to behave in certain way towards the attitude
If we believe in the three-component view of attitudes, we can make
subtle distinctions between attitude and related terms (Baker 1992: 13).

THE INFLUENCE FACTOR OF LANGUAGE ATTITUDE

According to Reagan (2002: 47f.), and from an American point of view, the fundamental
factors which determine a languages attitude are the following six factors:
1. the size of the languages speaker community;
2. the geographic spread of the language (including its use as a second language, or
lingua franca);
3. whether the language constitutes a heritage language in area;
4. whether the language is a language of wider communication;
5. whether the language has an established and recognised literary/written tradition; and
6. whether the language is a living or dead language.

According to Longmans Dictionary of Contemporary English, attitude is

a way of feeling or thinking about someone
or something, especially, as this influences ones behaviour.

Language attitudes, however, are different from other general attitudes in the sense that they are
specifically about language. We normally believe that language attitudes concerned with attitudes
with regard to the language itself its variety, its sound system, its semantic quality so on and so
forth. In fact the term language attitude as it is applied by sociolinguists today, includes the
outlook and stance towards speakers of a particular language as also a variety of behaviour
concerning language. Fasold (1984) suggests that attitudes towards a language are often a
reflection of attitudes towards members of various ethnic groups.

Ellis (2000) mentions that positive attitudes towards the L2 and its speakers can be expected to
enhance learning while negative attitudes impede it. So, learner attitudes have an impact on the
level of L2 proficiency achieved by individual learners who are themselves influenced by this
success. Thus, learners with positive attitudes, who experience success, will have these attitudes

reinforced. Similarly, learners negative attitudes may be strengthened by lack of success. (Ellis
2002).

Baker (1988; p.112-115) suggests that attitudes are complex constructs; there may be both
positive and negative feelings attached to a language situation. According to Lambert (1967),
attitudes consist of three components - the cognitive, affective and conative (related to action)
components. (Dittmar, 1976; p.181). The cognitive component refers to an individuals belief
structure, the affective to emotional reactions and the conative component includes the tendency to
behave in a certain way towards the attitude.