Heritage and family languages in french-speaking Belgium : issues of legitimacy and integration
(2019) Language Education and Multilingualism ā The Langscape Journal ā Vol. 2, nĀ° 1, p. 85-101 (2019)
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- Abstract
- The article presents some of the results of a sociolinguistic research on the multilingual practices and representations of Francophone Belgians of immigrant descent. We focus on the perceived relationships between bi- or multilingualism and social integration or, conversely, marginalization. The study reveals that for our participants, there is no contradiction between the legitimate and necessary command of the French language in Francophone Belgium and their wish to see the language(s) of their parents preserved and practiced in the private sphere. Rejecting the idea that language maintenance has anything to do with a reluctance to integrate oneself, the participants articulate the status they give to languages and bilingualism and the way they regard the question of integration. Focussing more specifically on linguistic practice, ideologies and bias, the respondents assert that postmigration identities are necessarily built on the premise of plurality and on the condition that social integration can be experienced in positive terms.
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Citations
Forlot, G. L. S. (2019). Heritage and family languages in french-speaking Belgium : issues of legitimacy and integration. Language Education and Multilingualism ā The Langscape Journal, 2(1), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.18452/20619 (Original work published 2019)