Attrition & Maintenance of Home Languages in the Indian Diaspora in the United States

Attrition & Maintenance of Home Languages in the Indian Diaspora in the United States PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Previous research in the field of diasporic language attrition and maintenance have suggested that home languages are replaced by host-land languages. They have also shown that home languages survive with phrases and vocabulary related to mainly food, kinship terms, and religious and social rituals and ceremonies. However, most of these studies focused on what has changed linguistically in home languages rather why changes occurred first place. In this study I examines the attrition and maintenance of home languages among Indian diaspora in the United States. Through this study, I explore the attitudes of Indian diaspora II and III generation children and their parents towards their home languages, and investigate the underlying factors and forces which led to their language preferences. In particular, this study addressed the questions of what type of multilingualism exists among Indian diaspora; how language preference lead to home language attrition and maintenance; and, how language preference provides a diasporic person a new linguistic and social identity. In order to investigate of areas of research, I interviewed 12 second and third generation Indian diaspora children, six male and six female, and their parents. These children were all over 18 years old and studying at a U.S. university. The children were also asked to participate in survey. Besides surveys and interviews, participant observation at the family get-togethers of the participants, was conducted by the researcher to further explore the area of research. This way, three methods of data collection were used and data were cross-examined by using data-triangulation. There were three main findings: (1) Multilingualism exists in Indian diaspora, and many different languages are spoken at home, however, the transfer of home languages to the next generation depends upon many factors, (2) the heavy use of English causes the attrition of home languages, and (3) the Indian diaspora is aware of the fact that home languages are very important for maintaining Indian culture and identity, however, we do not see enough efforts and motivation of parents and their children to speak and practice home languages.

Attrition & Maintenance of Home Languages in the Indian Diaspora in the United States

Attrition & Maintenance of Home Languages in the Indian Diaspora in the United States PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Previous research in the field of diasporic language attrition and maintenance have suggested that home languages are replaced by host-land languages. They have also shown that home languages survive with phrases and vocabulary related to mainly food, kinship terms, and religious and social rituals and ceremonies. However, most of these studies focused on what has changed linguistically in home languages rather why changes occurred first place. In this study I examines the attrition and maintenance of home languages among Indian diaspora in the United States. Through this study, I explore the attitudes of Indian diaspora II and III generation children and their parents towards their home languages, and investigate the underlying factors and forces which led to their language preferences. In particular, this study addressed the questions of what type of multilingualism exists among Indian diaspora; how language preference lead to home language attrition and maintenance; and, how language preference provides a diasporic person a new linguistic and social identity. In order to investigate of areas of research, I interviewed 12 second and third generation Indian diaspora children, six male and six female, and their parents. These children were all over 18 years old and studying at a U.S. university. The children were also asked to participate in survey. Besides surveys and interviews, participant observation at the family get-togethers of the participants, was conducted by the researcher to further explore the area of research. This way, three methods of data collection were used and data were cross-examined by using data-triangulation. There were three main findings: (1) Multilingualism exists in Indian diaspora, and many different languages are spoken at home, however, the transfer of home languages to the next generation depends upon many factors, (2) the heavy use of English causes the attrition of home languages, and (3) the Indian diaspora is aware of the fact that home languages are very important for maintaining Indian culture and identity, however, we do not see enough efforts and motivation of parents and their children to speak and practice home languages.

Language Maintenance and Shift in the United States Today: Native Americans

Language Maintenance and Shift in the United States Today: Native Americans PDF Author: David E. Lopez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bilingualism
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description


Handbook of Heritage, Community, and Native American Languages in the United States

Handbook of Heritage, Community, and Native American Languages in the United States PDF Author: Terrence G. Wiley
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136332499
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
Co-published by the Center for Applied Linguistics Timely and comprehensive, this state-of-the-art overview of major issues related to heritage, community, and Native American languages in the United States, based on the work of noted authorities, draws from a variety of perspectives—the speakers; use of the languages in the home, community, and wider society; patterns of acquisition, retention, loss, and revitalization of the languages; and specific education efforts devoted to developing stronger connections with and proficiency in them. Contributions on language use, programs and instruction, and policy focus on issues that are applicable to many heritage language contexts. Offering a foundational perspective for serious students of heritage, community, and Native American languages as they are learned in the classroom, transmitted across generations in families, and used in communities, the volume provides background on the history and current status of many languages in the linguistic mosaic of U.S. society and stresses the importance of drawing on these languages as societal, community, and individual resources, while also noting their strategic importance within the context of globalization.

Heritage Languages in America

Heritage Languages in America PDF Author: Joy Kreeft Peyton
Publisher: Delta Publishing Company(IL)
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
As a result of both immigration and birth patterns, the number of individuals in the United States who speak a language other than English is increasing dramatically. At the same time, there are tremendous needs in all areas of the workforce for individuals with proficiency in languages other than English.

Language Attrition and Language Maintenance: The Case of Colombian Immigrants in New York State

Language Attrition and Language Maintenance: The Case of Colombian Immigrants in New York State PDF Author: Dora B. Ramírez
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780549092957
Category : Colombians
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
The results of this study indicate that first generation Colombian immigrants in New York State do not present signs of language attrition but some pragmatic changes due to exposure to English as well as to other Spanish dialects. These bilinguals register a high level of first language maintenance due to the fact that they keep using their native language for both integrative and instrumental processes. At the lexical and semantic level, data analysis revealed a few instances of L2 influence on Ll. Two changes at the morphosyntactic level were found to be recurrent in the bilingual group, namely: the use of Overt Subject Personal Pronouns and the use of the indefinite pronoun uno to express impersonal sentences. Quantitative analysis was carried out using SPSS looking for correlations of linguistic and extralinguistic factors and the difference in pronominal use.

Language Attrition and Language Maintenance

Language Attrition and Language Maintenance PDF Author: Dora B. Ramírez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Colombians
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description


Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts

Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Language and languages
Languages : en
Pages : 750

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Book Description


A Manual of Linguistic Field Work and Structures of Indian Languages

A Manual of Linguistic Field Work and Structures of Indian Languages PDF Author: Anvita Abbi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Areal linguistics
Languages : en
Pages : 324

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Book Description


Cases of Heritage Language Maintenance Among Asian Immigrant Families in the Southwestern United States

Cases of Heritage Language Maintenance Among Asian Immigrant Families in the Southwestern United States PDF Author: Wenjie Wang
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 666

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Book Description
This qualitative, multiple-case research study seeks to understand how Asian immigrant families engage their children in learning their respective heritage languages from the parents' home country while residing in the southwest region of the United States. The study used ethnographic interviews and field notes to collect data, and qualitative content analysis to analyze the data. Four couples (eight participants) who have U.S.-born children but are foreign-born themselves participated. Although the four couples come from different countries (China, Nepal, Iran, and Saudi Arabia) with different heritage languages (Mandarin, Nepali, Persian, and Arabic), the major findings reflect a general phenomenon of heritage language acquisition, shift, loss, revival, and maintenance. Further major findings include similar family efforts and beliefs in assisting children to maintain heritage languages, such as: (a) believing in their children's ability and mentally preparing them for heritage language maintenance, (b) developing language rules within the home in order to form heritage language speaking habits, (c) working on heritage language proficiency, (d) providing a print-rich heritage language home environment, (e) storytelling in the heritage language, (f) practicing translation between English and the heritage language with the children, (g) learning together with children and building positive relationships, (h) including technology as part of children's heritage language learning resources, (i) offering diverse viewpoints and questions to develop critical thinking skills, (j) getting involved with the local ethnic community, (k) keeping in close contact with grandparents and homeland relatives and friends, and (l) deepening children's heritage language learning through visits to the homeland. Moreover, the findings also unveiled Asian immigrant families' struggles and challenges; for example, (a) the lack of heritage language resources, (b) the lack of school community support, and (c) parents as busy international graduate students. Key words: Asian immigrant families, children's heritage language maintenance, sociocultural theories, family beliefs and efforts, family challenges, and struggles

Language Diversity in the USA

Language Diversity in the USA PDF Author: Kim Potowski
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139491261
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
What are the most widely spoken non-English languages in the USA? How did they reach the USA? Who speaks them, to whom, and for what purposes? What changes do these languages undergo as they come into contact with English? This book investigates the linguistic diversity of the USA by profiling the twelve most commonly used languages other than English. Each chapter paints a portrait of the history, current demographics, community characteristics, economic status, and language maintenance of each language group, and looks ahead to the future of each language. The book challenges myths about the 'official' language of the USA, explores the degree to which today's immigrants are learning English and assimilating into the mainstream, and discusses the relationship between linguistic diversity and national unity. Written in a coherent and structured style, Language Diversity in the USA is essential reading for advanced students and researchers in sociolinguistics, bilingualism, and education.