Maintaining the heritage language and identity : the case of new diaspora Telugus in London
This study explores the attitudes towards language and its maintenance by the first- and second-generation new diaspora (post-1947 immigration) Telugus living in London, UK. With a population of less than 10,000, Telugus are a sub-minority group living predominantly in the Hounslow and Newham areas, and the majority of them working in IT-related jobs. Based on their time of arrival (pre- and post-2000), two waves of participants, 109 in total, participated in this first sociological study of language in the UK. Using surveys, interviews and field observations, language use in domains and social networks, ethnolinguistic vitality, and perceptions about language and identity were studied. Restricted use of the heritage language and a low vitality towards the own language group suggest that there is a rapid language shift within the second generation. The early first-generation migrants (wave 1) showed more integration into the dominant society and language shift is complete among their children. This was due to the dispersed settlement patterns, a small heritage language network, length of residence and favourable attitudes towards the dominant language and culture. The first generation of wave 2 was observed
Yadla, Arun
Maintaining the heritage language and identity : the case of new diaspora Telugus in London. This study explores the attitudes towards language and its maintenance by the first- and second-generation new diaspora (post-1947 immigration) Telugus living in London, UK. With a population of less than 10,000, Telugus are a sub-minority group living predominantly in the Hounslow and Newham areas, and the majority of them working in IT-related jobs. Based on their time of arrival (pre- and post-2000), two waves of participants, 109 in total, participated in this first sociological study of language in the UK. Using surveys, interviews and field observations, language use in domains and social networks, ethnolinguistic vitality, and perceptions about language and identity were studied. Restricted use of the heritage language and a low vitality towards the own language group suggest that there is a rapid language shift within the second generation. The early first-generation migrants (wave 1) showed more integration into the dominant society and language shift is complete among their children. This was due to the dispersed settlement patterns, a small heritage language network, length of residence and favourable attitudes towards the dominant language and culture. The first generation of wave 2 was observed
maintaining heritage language identity case new diaspora london study_explore attitude_towards language maintenance first second_generation new diaspora post immigration live london population less sub minority_group live predominantly area majority work related job based time arrival pre__post wave participant total participate first sociological_study language using survey interview field_observation language_use domains social_network ethnolinguistic vitality perception language identity study restricted use heritage language low vitality towards language group suggest rapid language_shift within second_generation early first_generation migrant wave show integration dominant society language_shift complete among child due disperse settlement_pattern small heritage language network length residence favourable attitude_towards dominant language_culture first_generation wave observe