Second-Generation Language Maintenance and Identity: A Case Study

Abstract

While the benefits of bilingualism have been widely acknowledged, parents face many hurdles raising children bilingually. Factors such as consistency in language use, family, school, and social support networks, issues of ethnic and social identity, and the prestige value of language have contributed to successful bilingualism. This paper presents a case study exploring the maintenance of German in an English-dominant environment, the strategies the mother employed in fostering German, and how her strategies influenced the children's perceptions of German. The findings offer insights into nurturing bilingualism, particularly when community and school do not support the heritage language.

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