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12 Language Maintenance and Language Shift: A Perspective from the First- Generation and Second-Generation Pashto Speakers Living in the United States and Canada

  • Farid Saydee
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Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora
This chapter is in the book Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora

Abstract

This article evaluates Pashto language usage among Pashto-speaking immigrants in the United States and Canada through quantitative data analysis. It provides empirical data to policymakers to consider when supporting languages such as Pashto: languages not included in the year-round school curriculum. Although Pashto is not categorized as an endangered language, the descriptive analysis of data from an online survey of 78 participants shows that second and third-generation Pashto speakers in the United States and Canada slowly give up their heritage language in favor of the mainstream language. The study uses the Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (GIDS) of Reversing Language Shift (RLS) perspective introduced by Fishman (1991) to identify the factors contributing to language maintenance and loss. It also recommends ways to improve literacy skills among heritage children - and to slow down or reverse language shift.

Abstract

This article evaluates Pashto language usage among Pashto-speaking immigrants in the United States and Canada through quantitative data analysis. It provides empirical data to policymakers to consider when supporting languages such as Pashto: languages not included in the year-round school curriculum. Although Pashto is not categorized as an endangered language, the descriptive analysis of data from an online survey of 78 participants shows that second and third-generation Pashto speakers in the United States and Canada slowly give up their heritage language in favor of the mainstream language. The study uses the Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (GIDS) of Reversing Language Shift (RLS) perspective introduced by Fishman (1991) to identify the factors contributing to language maintenance and loss. It also recommends ways to improve literacy skills among heritage children - and to slow down or reverse language shift.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Foreword VII
  4. Contents IX
  5. 1 Introduction 1
  6. Part I: Iranian Minority Languages
  7. 2 At the Crossroads: Caspian Languages through a Sociolinguistic Lens 9
  8. 3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects 37
  9. 4 Balochi: Literary Development, Status and Vitality 61
  10. 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran 83
  11. 6 The Bakhtiari Language: Maintenance or Shift? A Diachronic Survey on the Status of Bakhtiari in the City of Masjed Soleiman between 1996–2020 111
  12. Part II: Non-Iranian Minority Languages
  13. 7 Ebb and Flow of Azeri and Persian in Iran: A Longitudinal Study in the City of Zanjan 177
  14. 8 Language Shift and Language Maintenance among Turkmen Speakers 205
  15. 9 Language Change and Maintenance among Mandaic Speakers of Iran: A Socio-linguistic Study 231
  16. 10 Armenian Language and Identity in Iran: The Case of Iranian Armenians of Isfahan 249
  17. Part III: Iranian Heritage Languages in Diaspora
  18. 11 Wakhi in New York: Multilingualism and Language Contact in a Pamiri Diaspora Community 273
  19. 12 Language Maintenance and Language Shift: A Perspective from the First- Generation and Second-Generation Pashto Speakers Living in the United States and Canada 305
  20. 13 Persian as a Diasporic Language in the United States: A Survey of Heritage Persian Learners at College Level 333
  21. Index 379
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110694277-012

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Foreword VII
  4. Contents IX
  5. 1 Introduction 1
  6. Part I: Iranian Minority Languages
  7. 2 At the Crossroads: Caspian Languages through a Sociolinguistic Lens 9
  8. 3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects 37
  9. 4 Balochi: Literary Development, Status and Vitality 61
  10. 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran 83
  11. 6 The Bakhtiari Language: Maintenance or Shift? A Diachronic Survey on the Status of Bakhtiari in the City of Masjed Soleiman between 1996–2020 111
  12. Part II: Non-Iranian Minority Languages
  13. 7 Ebb and Flow of Azeri and Persian in Iran: A Longitudinal Study in the City of Zanjan 177
  14. 8 Language Shift and Language Maintenance among Turkmen Speakers 205
  15. 9 Language Change and Maintenance among Mandaic Speakers of Iran: A Socio-linguistic Study 231
  16. 10 Armenian Language and Identity in Iran: The Case of Iranian Armenians of Isfahan 249
  17. Part III: Iranian Heritage Languages in Diaspora
  18. 11 Wakhi in New York: Multilingualism and Language Contact in a Pamiri Diaspora Community 273
  19. 12 Language Maintenance and Language Shift: A Perspective from the First- Generation and Second-Generation Pashto Speakers Living in the United States and Canada 305
  20. 13 Persian as a Diasporic Language in the United States: A Survey of Heritage Persian Learners at College Level 333
  21. Index 379
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