Transnational language survival: heritage language use and maintenance among first-generation Yorùbá-English Nigerian immigrants in diaspora

Kupolati, Oluwateniola Oluwabukola

doi:10.1080/01434632.2021.1968878

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…The identification of HL as a core value can be associated with diverse factors identified in a previous study (Kupolati, 2021). The most significant is being bilingual in the host community's language.…”

Section: Ingenious Hl Maintenance Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…He states specifically about language that 'where the dominant majority's ideological system is based on linguistic monism, it might be problematic that individuals construct a viable personal ethnic, linguistic system' (Nemoto, 2011, p. 114). Although the difficulty of upholding language as a core value among minorities is established, Kupolati (2021) identifies some factors that could aid minorities in maintaining their HL. These include bilingualism in the language of the host community, supportive ethnic networks, HL-friendly family structures, cultural associations among others.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, subsequent generations can be bi-literate, that is, acquire the HL without attending heritage language schools, as with other heritage languages such as Chinese and Korean in the United States. Although this study can be said to be limited due to the few participants selected via linear snowballing, a quantitative survey conducted among a more significant number of this group of immigrants establishes that they relate with their HL as capital and they possess the habitus that aids HL use and maintenance (Kupolati, 2021).…”

Section: Ingenious Hl Maintenance Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond home language: Heritage language maintenance practices of Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants

Kupolati

2023

International Journal of Bilingualism

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Purpose: This research investigates the heritage language (HL) as a core value of first-generation Yorùbá English bilingual immigrants in the United States and explicates HL maintenance practices among them. Methodology: It uses observation and semi-structured interviews with first-generation Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants residing in New York, Texas and Maryland. Data and analysis: Transcripts from the interviews and field notes from the observation were analysed and coded using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) and some features of the Interlinear Morpheme Glossing (IMG) rules which are conventions useful for transliterations and translations. Findings: The heritage language is the distinctive identity of first-generation Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants in the United States. Hence, they adopt maintenance strategies similar to those of other immigrants identified in previous studies (home language, language of familiarity, language as code and language for admonition) and devise ingenious strategies to ensure maintenance including language for setting intergroup boundaries, language for maintaining connectedness and language for naming realities. Originality: Previous studies have examined HL maintenance among Asian, Hispanic and European immigrants who have HLs with high numeric strength, but this study examines immigrants of African descent and an HL with low numeric strength. It also presents unobserved HL maintenance strategies which are peculiar to first-generation Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants in the United States. Implications: Despite English monism, immigrants/ethnic minorities can go beyond common HL maintenance strategies and create unique ones that will ensure the continued use of their languages. The ability to do this advances a positive ethnic identity, guarantees an improved lifespan for HLs in host communities and reduces instances of identity crisis among immigrants.

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Section: Ingenious Hl Maintenance Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ingenious Hl Maintenance Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond home language: Heritage language maintenance practices of Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants

Kupolati

2023

International Journal of Bilingualism

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“…Among the limited number of scholarly studies on migration issues in the Nigerian context, the focus has been on: cultural identity (Ayeomoni, 2011, Kupolati, 2021; language contact (Nwaozuzu, 2013) and historical perspective of the phenomenon (Obi-Ani et al 2020), almost to the exclusion of discourse strategies for regrets construction in Nigerian migrants online discourses, especially as the migration resulted from bad leadership and governance in Nigeria. Ramos and Marques' (2020) study has a related focus as it identifies strategies (quantification of occurrences, categorization of the discourse object as "refugee", categorization and quantification etc.)…”

Section: Studies On Migration Discoursementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extant studies on migration discourse in the context of Nigeria (Ikuteyijo 2019;Ayeomono 2011;Kupolati 2021;Nwaozuzu 2013;Obi-Ani et al 2020) have focused on irregular migration as a survival strategy, cultural identity, language contact and the historical perspective of migration, to the exclusion of regrets' construction and the significant implications of such discourse as it relates to the Nigerian context. Migrants usually have different experiences which could be favourable and unfavourable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

"Regrets for leaving the 'zoo'?": Regret construction strategies in the online discourses of Nigerian migrants

Jolaoso

Olajimbiti

2021

ELS-JISH

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Regret, a cognitive phenomenon capable of revealing a person's disposition about certain realities, is conceived as a tool to unpack Nigerian migrants' perceptions about the country. This paper examines discourse strategies of regrets' construction in the online discourses of Nigerian migrants. The data consist of eighty-eight responses of Nigerian migrants downloaded from the NAIRALAND where many Nigerians in the diaspora expressed their regrets about leaving the country. These were subjected to qualitative-descriptive analysis, using van Dijk's (2007) model of discourse strategies. The findings uncover two forms of regrets constructed in the discourse: positive and negative. The positive regrets' construction characterizes "not leaving early" regrets; positive self-appraisal and negative representation of the country. Frustration experience in the foreign countries and juxtaposition of specific circumstances in Nigeria to contemporary experiences elsewhere frame negative regrets' construction. These were constructed through discourse strategies such as presupposition, implication, lexicalization, hyperbole, illustration, metaphor and disclaimer. These Nigerians' use of language in this discourse indexes hopelessness, visionless leaders, lawlessness and economic hardship. The study concludes that while the views of Nigerian migrants may not be true, perhaps, the government may urgently look into these views and act to convince other Nigerians to prevent the exodus of prospective Nigerian migrants which could lead to brain drain.

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Attitude towards language use and maintenance among Yorùbá-English bilinguals in the United States

Kupolati,

Shodipe

2023

International Multilingual Research Journal

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Transnational language survival: heritage language use and maintenance among first-generation Yorùbá-English Nigerian immigrants in diaspora

Cited by 4 publications

References 50 publications

Beyond home language: Heritage language maintenance practices of Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants

Beyond home language: Heritage language maintenance practices of Yorùbá–English bilingual immigrants

"Regrets for leaving the 'zoo'?": Regret construction strategies in the online discourses of Nigerian migrants

Attitude towards language use and maintenance among Yorùbá-English bilinguals in the United States

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