The name is absent

434

with 34.1 pɑr cent agreeing their English was not good enough,
27.5 per cent being unsure and 38.5 per cent believing their

*

English was not a handicap to getting a job.
№

At a personal level, the majority of respondents felt that
their command of language did ɪiot impede social interaction.

It has been seen that ’speaking English well’ is not stereo-
typed by Aborigines for Aborigines or by non-Aborigines for non-
Aborigines. Most of the students in the study, both Aborigines
and non-Aborigines believed Aborigines and Australians lacked
adequate skills in English.

Nevertheless, a higher proportion of the Aboriginal grouR
compared with the non-Aboriginal group, saw themselves as disadvantaged
in their command of English, 34.1 per cent compared with 26.8 per
cent. For a third of Aborigines, language is a negative idential
in the job market.

There was thus limited support for the hypothesis advanced
that Aborigines would perceive themselves lacking job opportunities
because of their command of English.

25.14 Physical appearance

2

In discussing the identification∕categorisation of Aborigines ,
colour and physical attributes were seen by magistrates and others
as negative identials that located Aborigines into a negative
identity.

It was hypothesized that Aborigines would support the statement
that they felt self-conscious about their looks and would reject
the statement that people liked them for themselves.

ɪsee ρ.340, 344 above.

⅜ee p. 120 above.

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