ABSTRACT
Linguoelitism is a hegemonic linguistic ideology that privileges languages and accents, constructed as standard, over others that are portrayed and treated as subaltern. Because of linguoelitism, groups from marginalized linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds in these neoliberal times are routinely subjected to language and accent discrimination for speaking languages or speaking in accents that are constructed and treated as substandard. This chapter draws on sociolinguistic and sociocultural theories and field notes collected over the course of an academic year to perform an observational analysis of the ways in which linguoelitism in neoliberal times may have affected disenfranchised Caribbeans, particularly Haitians, speaking alleged non-standard or inferior dialects, such as Creole. It provides valuable ethnographical, sociolinguistic and multicultural insights about language and accent hegemony, as well as concerns regarding neoliberal trappings, such as class disparity and its effects on socioeconomically and linguistically oppressed Haitians.
