Kutlay Yagmur

Acculturation and Language Orientations of Turkish Immigrants in Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands

The authors examined acculturation and language orientations among Turkish immigrants in Australia (n = 283), France (n = 266), Germany (n = 265), and the Netherlands (n = 271). They expected that the countries with the least pluralistic climate (France and Germany) would show the lowest level of sociocultural adjustment and the highest level of ethnic orientation and language use; the opposite was expected in Australia, as the country with the most pluralistic climate; and the Netherlands would have an intermediate position. The predictions were largely borne out. The language orientation measures yielded a (symbolic) language value factor and a (behavioral) language preference factor. In all countries Turkish identity was a positive predictor and mainstream identity a negative predictor of both the language value and preference factor. Mainstream and Turkish identity showed stronger negative correlations in the less pluralistic countries. It is concluded that immigrants showed the least maintenance and the most adjustment in Australia, which is the country with the least pressure to assimilate.

Language attrition, Language Shift and Ethnolinguistic Vitality of Turkish in Australia

This paper presents the findings of research investigating first-language attrition of Turkish speakers in Australia and the role of subjective ethnolinguistic vitality perceptions in that process. It examines the relationship between societal factors and individuals perception of the language contact situation as reflected in their speech behaviour. For the linguistic dimension of the study, a number of lexical and syntactic tests along with self-rating scales were administered to 40 Turkish-Australians in Sydney and 40 reference-group informants in Turkey. For the social psychological dimension of the study, data were gathered by utilising the concept of ethnolinguistic vitality and its accompanying instrument, the subjective vitality questionnaire (SVQ). The SVQ data indicate low vitality perceptions among Turkish immigrants. Also, by means of a language use-choice questionnaire (LUCQ), data were elicited on language use and attitudes of the informants. The comparative results between Turkish immigran...

Language proficiency and socio-cultural orientation of Turkish and Moroccan youngsters in the Netherlands

In this study, data and discourses on immigrant minority groups and languages other than Dutch at home and at school are presented in order to contextualise the status of Turkish and Moroccan communities and their languages in the Netherland. Patterns of language use, choice and attitudes of Turkish (n = 63) and Moroccan (n = 64) youngsters in the Netherlands are documented and discussed. The findings of this study show that pride in ones socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds is not coupled with maintenance of the community language. Arabic and Berber informants report high attachment to their cultural backgrounds but their actual community language use is very restricted compared to their Dutch language use. They clearly shift to Dutch in most domains of language use. Turkish youngsters, on the other hand, show strong language maintenance patterns and their socio-cultural orientation is congruent with their language behaviour. While Moroccan youngsters identify more strongly with Islamic practices, Turkish youngsters identify strongly with the Turkish language. This, in turn, suggests that strong religious attachment does not affect community language maintenance but a strong identification with the community language does contribute to language maintenance. Apparently, for Turkish youngsters, cultural self-awareness goes hand in hand with linguistic self-awareness.

Language Use and Ethnolinguistic Vitality of Turkish Compared with the Dutch in the Netherlands.

Abstract The focus of this paper is on the relationships between Turkish speakers’ ethnolinguistic vitality (EV) perceptions and their language maintenance (LM), language use, and choice patterns. The theoretical framework of the study is based on Giles, Bourhis, and Taylors (1977) EV theory. In line with the model, a subjective EV vitality questionnaire, a Language Use–Choice Questionnaire, and a language rating scale have been applied to 25 Dutch-born Turkish and 64 Turkish-born immigrants in the Netherlands. Subjective EV questionnaire was administered to 104 Dutch informants. The findings of this study contribute further evidence into the role of education for LM and shift. Birth country turns out to be a significant factor for Dutch language skills of Turkish immigrants. While both the Dutch speakers and Turkish immigrants agree upon the vitality of the Dutch, there is significant difference concerning the Turkish vitality ratings. Turkish immigrants seem to compensate for their lower vitality in the mainstream institutions by establishing their own institutional support structures, which partly explains higher LM rates among them.

Does Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory account for the actual vitality of ethnic groups? A critical evaluation.

Abstract Ethnolinguistic vitality theory asserts that Status, Demographic, Institutional Support and Control factors make up the vitality of ethnolinguistic groups. An assessment of a groups strengths and weaknesses in each of these dimensions provides a rough classification of ethnolinguistic groups into those having low, medium, or high vitality. Low vitality groups are most likely to go through linguistic assimilation and may not be considered a distinctive collective group. On the other hand, high vitality groups are likely to maintain their language and distinctive cultural traits in multilingual settings. Compared to other models, Ethnoliguistic Vitality Theory (EVT) and its accompanying instruments provide a broader and more inclusive framework for the investigation of language maintenance and shift. However, the empirical evidence obtained in a number of contexts point to an underestimation of the actual vitality of some minority groups. In this paper, based on the findings on ethnolinguistic vitality perceptions of Turkish immigrants in Australia, France, Germany and the Netherlands, a critical evaluation of EVT will be presented.

Tradition and innovation in the Ethnolinguistic Vitality theory

According to Google Scholar, the annual number of new publications mentioning ‘Ethnolinguistic Vitality’ (EV theory henceforth) has been steadily growing during the last 15 years, from 20 in 1995 to 144 in 2009. While these numbers may be influenced by the recent increased electronic availability of research papers and easier access to such articles, there is still reason to believe that the concept of ‘EV’ is gaining prominence in the twenty-first century. An obvious reason for the rise in interest seems to stem from the effect that globalisation has on the dynamics of ethnic and linguistic communities. On the one hand, the increased mobility has made a large number of traditional ethnolinguistic groups vulnerable through the invasion of dominant languages, cultures and infrastructures into their previously well-bounded territories. On the other hand, the increased mobility has also caused the emergence of large minority communities in the territories of previously quite homogeneous nation-states in Europe, as well as in North America and Australia, although the settings are, to some extent, different. The increase in both types of contact has amplified the variety of ways in which EV is manifested. Traditionally, vitality research has been employed to document the low vitality of minorities and the decrease in vitality in connection with language shift. In the contemporary world, the rise of EV in some subordinate groups has also become quite evident through its effects on intergroup relations. In connection with this, the issues of heightening EV have gained more attention. Undoubtedly, this diversity has increased the awareness of scholars of the complexity of the notion of vitality. However, it is not only in the framework of EV that the issues of ethnic group maintenance and collective identity, group distinctiveness and methods of social mobilisation are addressed. These topics are also increasingly being studied in social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, political science, culture studies and other fields of the social sciences and humanities. This indicates the great interdisciplinary nature of the phenomenon and also a need for a more integrative approach to its study.

Objective and subjective data on Altai and Kazakh ethnolinguistic vitality in the Russian Federation Republic of Altai

This study deals with the ethnolinguistic vitality of Altai and Kazakh as compared to Russian in the Russian Federation Republic of Altai. Data were gathered by document analysis, interviews with experts and by conducting a subjective ethnolinguistic vitality questionnaire. The data showed that Altai and Kazakh, as a consequence of a long-lasting Russification process, have become endangered languages in Altai. The dominance of Russian is ubiquitous and hardly hampered by a growing consciousness of ethnolinguistic identity and a number of language revitalisation activities. The ethnolinguistic vitality questionnaire corroborated the weak position of Kazakh as compared to Russian. For most of the indicators of ethnolinguistic vitality Kazakh informants reported significantly higher vitalities for the Russian out-group. Also a comparison at group level yielded a significant difference in favour of Russian. The Kazakh language in Altai can be considered a threatened language that will be more and more limited to the domestic domain and to speakers of the older generation. With respect to Altai a number of indicators of ethnolinguistic vitality showed higher vitalities for the Altai in-group. A comparison at group level did not show significant differences between Altai and Russian. This shows that the vitality of Altai in spite of the dominance of Russian is high and opens up possibilities for further growth.

Age Vitality: Perceptions of Young Canadian, Turkish and Georgian Urban and Rural Adults

This study extends previous research on age-group vitality around the Pacific Rim by examining the perceptions of urban and rural respondents from Turkey, Canada and the nation of Georgia towards young, middle-aged, and older adults. As in prior research, middle-aged targets were accorded the highest vitality, and a new age-vitality profile was associated with Georgian rural informants. Some urban-rural differences in vitality ratings emerged, and Canadians rated the vitality of older people highest. Across the three countries, Georgian respondents rated young vitality the highest and older adult vitality the lowest. The findings are discussed in terms of dimensions of social change.

Motives for Turkish return migration from Western Europe: home, sense of belonging, discrimination and transnationalism

ABSTRACT This article explores return migration motivations of different generations of Turkish migrants returning from Germany, the Netherlands and France, using semi-structured face-to-face interviews among 48 informants. The study draws on a qualitative approach and inductive content analysis to get insight into how pre-return, migration and transnational experiences of Turkish migrants influence their decisions to return to Turkey. It was found that an ambition to return to Turkey already present when migrating from Turkey, perceived discrimination in Western Europe and a strong sense of belonging to Turkey play the most important role in return decisions.

Home Language Policy of Second-Generation Turkish Families in the Netherlands.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the family language policy of second-generation Turkish immigrant families in the Netherlands by exploring their language ideologies, practices, and management strategies. Using an ethnographic approach, data were collected through a set of observations and interviews with 20 families. Transcriptions of interviews and memos of observations were coded to derive the major strategies employed by parents regarding home language use. The findings show that, although Turkish maintenance is a very important part of the linguistic ideologies of the families studied, there is great diversity and complexity in their language practices and management strategies. All of the families focus their language planning activities around the educational achievement of their children. Therefore, the recommendations of educational institutions are very important in their language practices.