Post on 28-Mar-2015
11
Positive attitudes are not Positive attitudes are not enough: Minority language enough: Minority language
survival in the Canadian survival in the Canadian Prairies Prairies
Jaya Nagpal & Elena NicoladisJaya Nagpal & Elena Nicoladis
University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
22
Why care about Minority Why care about Minority language survival?language survival?
• Visible expression of people’s ethnicityVisible expression of people’s ethnicity
• Parent-child relationships in immigrant Parent-child relationships in immigrant familiesfamilies
• Cognitive benefitsCognitive benefits
• Economic benefits Economic benefits
33
Canadian contextCanadian contextUnited States
Central and South America
Caribbean and Bermuda
United Kingdom
Other Northern and WesternEurope
Eastern Europe
Southern Europe
Africa
West Central Asia and theMiddle East
Eastern Asia
Southeast Asia
Southern Asia
Oceania and other countries
44
Multiculturalism within a Multiculturalism within a bilingual frameworkbilingual framework
• External services to people in both External services to people in both French and EnglishFrench and English
• Balanced participation of English-Balanced participation of English-speaking and French-speaking speaking and French-speaking people in public servicespeople in public services
• Freedom of choice in the language at Freedom of choice in the language at workwork
55
Attitudes towards Minority Attitudes towards Minority groups and Minority Languagesgroups and Minority Languages
• Acceptance of multiculturalism and Acceptance of multiculturalism and high tolerance for diverse cultural high tolerance for diverse cultural groups groups
• Parents in immigrant families hold Parents in immigrant families hold positive attitudes about Minority positive attitudes about Minority language retention. language retention.
66
Language shiftLanguage shift
• 11stst generation: Learn English but generation: Learn English but prefer to use ML at homeprefer to use ML at home
• 22ndnd generation: Bilinguals, more generation: Bilinguals, more fluent in English and prefer to speak fluent in English and prefer to speak English English
• 33rdrd generation: More fluent in English generation: More fluent in English and use English at home and use English at home
77
Factors that prevent language Factors that prevent language shiftshift
• Family and people in the close social Family and people in the close social networknetwork
• Media Media
• Motivation to learn a Minority Motivation to learn a Minority Langauge Langauge
• Community organizationsCommunity organizations
88
Context of this studyContext of this study
• Edmonton, Canada Edmonton, Canada
• French is the second most commonly French is the second most commonly spoken minority language: 7.7%spoken minority language: 7.7%
• South Asians: 1.9%South Asians: 1.9%
99
Resources for learning Resources for learning French French • Five elementary schools and 2 high Five elementary schools and 2 high
schools aimed at teaching native French schools aimed at teaching native French children children
• French immersion program in 15 French immersion program in 15 schoolsschools
• French language university programsFrench language university programs• One French day-care centerOne French day-care center• Several French day-homes Several French day-homes • Part-time preschool programs in FrenchPart-time preschool programs in French
1010
ParticipantsParticipants
• 34 French-speaking families 34 French-speaking families – Average age of children: 3.5 yearsAverage age of children: 3.5 years– Canadian citizensCanadian citizens– Same mother tongue for parents: 45.5%Same mother tongue for parents: 45.5%
• 31 South Asian immigrant families31 South Asian immigrant families– Average age of children 4.3 years Average age of children 4.3 years – Canadian citizens (62.3%), Immigrants (35.5%) Canadian citizens (62.3%), Immigrants (35.5%) – Same mother tongue for parents: 100%Same mother tongue for parents: 100%
1111
Research questionsResearch questions
• Attitudes towards maintaining the MLAttitudes towards maintaining the ML
• Language use at homeLanguage use at home
• Choice of language of media for childrenChoice of language of media for children
• Involvement in activities in the minority Involvement in activities in the minority language outside of home. language outside of home.
1212
Language FluencyLanguage Fluency
French ML English Both
Mothers 60.0 14.3 25.7
Fathers 36.4 51.5 22.1
SA
Mothers 77.4 0 22.6
Fathers 64.5 0 35.5
1313
Expectations for language Expectations for language useuse
• What language you want that your What language you want that your children should speak with their children should speak with their children?children?
• What language do you think that What language do you think that your children will speak with their your children will speak with their children? children?
• What language do you think your What language do you think your children will speak as adults? children will speak as adults?
1414
Expectations for language Expectations for language useuse
• What language you What language you wantwant that your that your children should speak with their children should speak with their children?children?
• What language do you What language do you thinkthink that that your children will speak with their your children will speak with their children? children?
• What language do you think your What language do you think your children will speak as adults? children will speak as adults?
1515
Expectations for Language Expectations for Language retention retention
• Parents in both groups wanted their Parents in both groups wanted their children to retain their MLchildren to retain their ML
• Parents in SA families were less Parents in SA families were less hopeful than their French hopeful than their French counterparts that they will be able to counterparts that they will be able to maintain their ML maintain their ML
1616
Expectations about language Expectations about language useuse
01020304050607080
Think Speakas
adults
French (expectations)
ML
English
Both0
1020304050607080
Think Speakas
adults
SA (Expectations)
ML
English
Both
1717
Language choice of parentsLanguage choice of parents
• In both groups parents prefer to talk In both groups parents prefer to talk to their children in their MLto their children in their ML
1818
Language choice of parentsLanguage choice of parents
0
20
40
60
80
100
French SA
Language used by parents when talking with each other
ML
English
Both
1919
Language choice of parentsLanguage choice of parents
• In both groups parents prefer to talk In both groups parents prefer to talk to their children in their MLto their children in their ML
• FrenchFrench– Most parents talk to each other in the Most parents talk to each other in the
ML ML
• SASA– Most parents talk to each other in the Most parents talk to each other in the
ML ML
2020
Language choice of children Language choice of children
• In both groups most children talk to In both groups most children talk to their parents in the ML their parents in the ML
• More children in SA families use More children in SA families use English when talking to their parents English when talking to their parents
2121
Language choice of childrenLanguage choice of children
01020304050607080
French SA
Language used with siblings
ML
English
Both
2222
Language choice of children Language choice of children
• In both groups most children talk to In both groups most children talk to their parents in the ML their parents in the ML
• More children in SA families use More children in SA families use English when talking to their parents English when talking to their parents
• In French children talk to their In French children talk to their siblings in ML but in SA families siblings in ML but in SA families children talk to their siblings in children talk to their siblings in English English
2323
Language of media for Language of media for childrenchildren
010203040
50607080
TV Rhymes
French
ML
English
Both
010203040
50607080
TV Rhymes
SA
ML
English
Both
2424
ResultsResults
• Both groups had positive attitudes Both groups had positive attitudes about ML survival about ML survival
• South Asians are less hopeful of South Asians are less hopeful of retaining their ML retaining their ML – Perceived utility of a languagePerceived utility of a language– Support for a language in the outside Support for a language in the outside
communitycommunity– Experience Experience
2525
Results Cont.. Results Cont..
• In SA families parents switch to In SA families parents switch to English while talking to their childrenEnglish while talking to their children
• Children show a preference for Children show a preference for English in SA families English in SA families
• More exposure to ML media in French More exposure to ML media in French than in SA families than in SA families
• More exposure to ML activities in More exposure to ML activities in French families French families
2626
Suggestions for retaining MLSuggestions for retaining ML
• Motivating parents to make efforts to Motivating parents to make efforts to retain the ML retain the ML
• Providing media in ML Providing media in ML • School boards can contract a person School boards can contract a person
or agency for ML education as per the or agency for ML education as per the community needscommunity needs
• Setting up day-cares and day-homes Setting up day-cares and day-homes in MLin ML
• Informal organizations for promotion Informal organizations for promotion of ML of ML
2727
Expectations about language Expectations about language useuse
01020304050607080
Want Adults
French
ML
English
Both
01020304050607080
Want Adults
Soth Asian
ML
English
Both
2828
Choice of language of Choice of language of parentsparents
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mother Parents
French
ML
English
Both
0
20
40
60
80
100
Mother Parents
South Asian
ML
English
Both
2929
Choice of language of Choice of language of childrenchildren
01020304050607080
Mothers Siblings
French
ML
English
Both
01020304050607080
Mothers Siblings
South Asian
ML
English
Both