Identity and linguistic acculturation expectations. The attitudes of Western Catalan high-school students towards Moroccans and Romanians

This study analyzes the influence of identity complexity on the linguistic acculturation expectations that Catalan high-school students hold towards their peers of Moroccan and Romanian origin. It also takes into account social status and cultural proximity, expecting higher expectations of linguist...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sáenz Hernández, Isabel, Lapresta Rey, Cecilio, Ianos, Maria Adelina, Petreñas, Cristina
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
Repositorio:Repositori Obert UdL
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/71171
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2019.12.001
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/71171
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Acculturation
Linguistic acculturation
Self-identification
Identity complexity
Catalonia
Descripción
Sumario:This study analyzes the influence of identity complexity on the linguistic acculturation expectations that Catalan high-school students hold towards their peers of Moroccan and Romanian origin. It also takes into account social status and cultural proximity, expecting higher expectations of linguistic integration towards Romanians. Using a 5-point Likert scale, 345 autochthonous high-school students were asked about their degree of self-identification with Spain and Catalonia. Then, they responded to several questions concerning linguistic acculturation expectations regarding Romanians and Moroccans. While integration is the most popular profile for all three groups, the bicultural identity group scored the highest, followed by the Catalan identity group and the Spanish identity group ranking last. Bicultural identification was also a significant predictor for all integration measures, as was Catalan identification for 'integration to Catalan' and 'integration to Spanish and Catalan'. However, the distinctions between answers regarding Romanians and Moroccans were scant. We conclude that incorporating the languages of immigration into a bilingual host society is not only possible, it may even be more welcoming. The potential of working with the concept of identity complexity to decrease black and white thinking and foster tolerance is also discussed.