THE HIDDEN IMPACT OF CULTURAL CONFLICTS (BRITISH GYPSIES AND NON-GYPSY BRITISH PEOPLE) ON THE DISCOURSE OF THE DOMINANT ETHNIC GROUP

Abstract

This paper has the aim of analysing the interethnic conflict that exists between the British-gypsy ethnic minority and the dominant non gypsy British group and the unofficial xenophobic attitudes that can be observed in the discourse of the British dominant group. The research field of discourse analysis examines the interdependence of cultural aspects and communication from different disciplinary perspectives (Byram, 1991; Brogger, 1992; Fantini, 1995; Schen, 1998) In particular studies which have been carried out from the ethnography of communication (Tannen, 1987; Saville-Troike, 1989; Schiffrin, 1994) emphasises the importance of cultural blackground on the discourse between members of different races cultures and how of the same time discourse becomes the reflection of cultural interaction. Thus according to our research project. The data for the study was obtained by carrying out a questionnaire and interviews with a group of non-gypsy British informants within the context of the University of Murcia. The findings resulting from a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the informants perception of anethnic conflict were discussed in the light of the consequences that xenophobic attitudes have on the discourse of the dominant gruoup.