Intergenerational heritage language maintenance among the Hausa community in Saudi Arabia: comparing proficiency levels with subjective attitudes

Abstract

This article reports on a study that investigated the sociolinguistic situation of the Hausa community in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on questions concerning Hausa Saudi adults’ self-reported language proficiency levels in Hausa and Arabic and attitudes toward Hausa as a heritage language. A total of 179 participants from the second (G2) and third (G3) generations of Hausa descendants living in Saudi Arabia completed an online questionnaire. The findings reveal that both generational groups reported high proficiency levels in Arabic across all language skills. Conversely, their proficiency in Hausa was moderate in spoken skills but markedly low in literacy. G2 participants exhibited relatively higher proficiency levels and more positive attitudes toward Hausa compared to G3 participants. The study also identified a moderate to weak correlation between Hausa proficiency and language attitudes, highlighting positive associations with the language's perceived value and usefulness while noting negative associations stemming from its limited usage. Participants highlighted key themes about their heritage language: the lack of Hausa reproduction at home, the importance of maintaining it, and strategies for preservation. The implications for heritage language maintenance are discussed.

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