Attitudes in context: Stereotypes in patterns of ethnic identification in Sydney

This study investigates language attitudes towards Australian English speakers of different ethnic backgrounds in Sydney. A mixed-methods perception experiment with 94 listeners examined evaluations of 16 speakers from Anglo-Celtic, Chinese, Italian, and Lebanese backgrounds (including Lebanese teenagers and adults) on status, solidarity, and confidence dimensions, with a particular focus on Lebanese Australians given their continued marginalization. Ethnic identification accuracy varied substantially, with Lebanese teenagers being most accurately identified (70%) and Italians least accurately identified (20%). Statistical analyses of both perceived and actual ethnicity revealed that ethnic stereotypes strongly shaped evaluations across all traits, as supported by listener comments in the experiment. Consistent patterns across perceived and actual Lebanese ethnicity highlighted persistent stigmatization of Lebanese Australian men, especially on solidarity, with age-related differences across traits. Chinese Australians were associated with model minority stereotypes: rated higher on status but lower on confidence. Anglo-Australians received mixed evaluations, with more positive ratings based on perceived rather than actual ethnicity. Italian Australians showed perceptual ambiguity, with men rated lower on solidarity but otherwise not deviating from the overall average, suggesting changing perceptions over time. Collectively, these findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between perception, stereotyping, and language attitudes in Australia’s multicultural society.