Maintaining an immigrant heritage language other than Spanish or English in the bilingual culture of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas

Authors

Sonia A. Shepherd, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

12-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English as a Second Language

First Advisor

Dr. Pamela Anderson-Mejias

Second Advisor

Dr. Yong Lang

Third Advisor

Dr. Deborah Cole

Abstract

A 2005 study in the bilingual Spanish/English Rio Grande Valley of South Texas investigates the language strategies used by immigrant families from China, Greece, Hungary, Japan, the Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, and the Ukraine to preserve their heritage languages and pass them on to their children. Personal interviews determine that all the parents are well-educated and from an above average socio-economic level. This investigation categorizes the various strategies used by the parents. All the immigrant parents emphasize that the main reason they want to preserve the heritage language with their children is to insure that the children can continue to communicate with their extended family in the home country. The social use of language appears to be the strongest motivation for success in preserving these immigrant languages not supported in the bilingual environment.

Comments

Copyright 2006 Sonia A. Shepherd. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/maintaining-immigrant-heritage-language-other/docview/304912399/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American