Published June 2, 2014 | Version 1.0
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Linguistic-symbolic classification of occupations

Description

As a result, it has been considered the following occupational categories, based on the degree of symbolic analysis and language intensity: (A) high symbolic analysts, (B) low symbolic analysts, (C) high intensity oral interaction with public (high public service), (D) low intensity oral interaction with public (low public service), and (E) manual labor occupations with limited symbolic and oral demands. Further, and within (B) category -low symbolic analysts-, it is distinguished between (B1) those whose work is generally inside the organization (such as file clerks) and (B2) those whose work includes interacting with the public (such as receptionists). In a similar way, (C) category is also divided into (C1) category of nurses and (C2-C5) which group the remainder of the high public service occupations.

The result of the categorization of occupations by language use is summarized in the table below:

Major occupational classification Linguistic characteristics of occupation Sub classification Example of occupation
A: High symbolic analysts Produce/consume long or complex written communications, with variable but often important oral communication A1. Upper management Chief executive, human resource executive
    A2. Professionals Lawyer, doctor
    A3. Lower management First line manager/supervisor
    A4. High symbolic analysts, not managers Public relations specialists, computer systems specialists
B: Low symbolic analysts Produce/consume short or simple written communications, with variable but often important oral communication B1. Low symbolic analysts with low likelihood of public interaction File clerks
    B2. Low symbolic analysts with high likelihood of public interaction Receptionists, billing/appointment clerks
C: In-person service workers with high communicative demands Important oral communication, limited but present written skills, and high public interaction C1. Nurses Nurses
    C2. Assistants and technicians in public service settings Medical technicians
    C3. Police, etc. Police, detectives, investigators
    C4. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians Firefighters, emergency medical technicians
    C5. Miscellaneous Counselors, dispatchers
D. In-person service workers with low communicative demands Simple oral communication and public interaction, very limited or no writing (no subcategories in our study) home health care aides, security guards
E. Manual work Limited oral and written consumption and production E1. Skilled manual work Plumber
    E2. Unskilled manual work Janitor

 

Notes

Source: Alarcon, A. et al. (2014). The Occupational Location of Spanish-English Bilinguals in the New Information Economy. In R. M. Callahan & P. C. Gandara (Eds.), The Bilingual Advantage (pp. 120-139). Clevedon, Bristol. Multilingual Matters Editorial.

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Additional details

Related works

Has part
Book chapter: gnd:978-84-8424-892-6 (gnd)
Book chapter: 978-1-78309-242-0 (ISBN)
Journal article: 10.21832/9781783092437-006 (DOI)