ERIC Number: EJ1292413
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 32
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1931-3152
EISSN: N/A
"Enculturalling" Multilingualism: Family Language Ecology and Its Impact on Multilingualism
International Multilingual Research Journal, v15 n2 p126-157 2021
Though the two languages most frequently used in the homes of Chinese Singaporeans are English and Mandarin Chinese, there is not much information on how the home language can influence language use and attitudes toward these two languages. This study investigates the family language ecology in bilingual homes and aims to compare attitudes toward Mandarin Chinese between Chinese Singaporean young adults from English-speaking homes (ESH) and those from Chinese-speaking homes (CSH). A total of 118 participants took part in a questionnaire designed to elicit language use and attitudes toward Mandarin. Results reveal that participants from Chinese-speaking homes do show greater use and proficiency in Mandarin, as well as possess more positive attitudes and motivation toward Mandarin as compared to participants from English-speaking homes. Both group report using more English with their siblings than their parents. However, the CSH group reports using more Mandarin than English with their siblings and more so with their younger siblings. This study emphasizes the process of "enculturation" to be an essential feature of language maintenance and as the home is the main site for enculturation to take place this study has implications for language maintenance for minority languages.
Descriptors: Family Relationship, Language Usage, Family Environment, Mandarin Chinese, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Sibling Relationship, Language Proficiency, Foreign Countries, Language Attitudes, Parent Child Relationship, Native Language, Age Differences, Language Maintenance, Language Minorities, Bilingualism, Comparative Analysis, Indonesian Languages, Dravidian Languages, Multilingualism, Social Networks, Self Evaluation (Individuals)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Singapore
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A