What is a heritage language?

Abstract

Chapter one looks at what is meant by a heritage language and how the term can vary in scope and meaning. The differences are a result of which language is discussed, where the language is used, and who is defining it. It looks at indigenous, colonial, immigrant, and ancestral heritage languages. The chapter also outlines the role that language policies play in maintaining, reviving, or at times even erasing heritage languages. The chapter aims at identifying what is a heritage language as well as giving examples of heritage languages in North America and Europe. Heritage languages are an area of growing interest in language learning. Sharing the progress in this field of language learning allows for better understanding of the language learners. This allows the reader to fully understand how Arabic functions as a heritage language in context.

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