Interculture

Abstract

Migration is a process that creates dynamic changes and patterns of interaction in both the country of origin, the host country and the immigrant community. Influences are always reciprocal. The report attempts to find new ways of describing and analyzing these dynamic interactions. It is claimed that a structuralistic approach is necessary. In the vein of Piaget, it is argued that a structuralistic approach is perfectly compatible with empirical research methods. The report begins with analyzing some linguistic models for describing languages in contact. The concept of “culture” is discussed in terms of Hall's mode of analysis. Neither the linguistic nor the anthropological models give full understanding of the psychological consequences of culture mixing, although important insights are provided. A new theory for the psychology of the emigration process is presented. Also, a new application of theories of identity formation for the development of a bicultural identity in immigrant children is presented. A review of some experimental results, supporting the psychodynamic view on identity development is given. New results on processes of reduction and modes of preservation of immigrant languages are reviewed. The question of the preservation of culture and language in future immigrant generations is discussed in terms of extensions of the linguistic findings of Oksaar. These extensions seem to lead to completely new ways of looking on cultures in contact, although the discussion is hypothetical and tentative.

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