HOST COUNTRY LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AMONG FIRST-GENERATION YAGLIDERE IMMIGRANTS IN THE USA AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TURKISH LANGUAGE IN SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS VIA SOCIAL NETWORKS

Authors : Emine Yalçın Özcan, Douglass, s Massey

Pages : 83-99

Doi:10.20427/turkiyat.1367324

View : 46 | Download : 39

Publication Date : 2024-11-09

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article investigated the effect of the social networks of Yaglidere Turkish immigrants on language acquisition and the maintenance of heritage languages by successive generations in the USA. The study was conducted in the cities of Patterson and Burlington between January 2018 and July 2018. This research used qualitative research methods to analyze ethnographic interviews and participant observations. Data were collected using participant observation and informal talks with immigrants conducted in different informal settings such as participants’ houses, their restaurants, and other cafes in Burlington and Paterson. The interviews lasted from 40 to 90 minutes. Questions were open-ended and focused on the role of social networks in the acquisition of English language skills. In order to analyze the resulting data, the audio recordings were transcribed and translated into English. The interviews were first transcribed into Microsoft Word files and then imported into Maxqda, a software program for qualitative analysis, where the data were coded for study. The results indicated that even though social networks have destructive effects among first-generation immigrants, they have undeniable constructive effects on language maintenance in other generations. So, what is destructive for the first generation turns into constructive for the other generations.
Keywords : Göç, Amerika Birleşik Devletlerindeki Türkler, Yağlıdereli Türk göçmenler, sosyal ağlar, Türk dili, ev sahibi ülkenin dil edinimi, dilin devam ettirilmesi