MODULE 3: What else is lost when language shift occurs

Introduction Statement 

             This module consists of a brief description of the possible consequences and effects of language shift. As mentioned in module 1, language shift is a phenomenon that is frequently developed in a structure of a three-generation process (Fishman as cited in Portes & Hao, 1998). This means that language shift tends to go hand in hand with a decrease of the first language (L1) use in first generation immigrants, which then leads to a decrease in language proficiency. In the second generation, a clear decline in both (parents L1) language use and proficiency might typically be perceived. By the third generation, it has been found that language shift has been developed, and members of this generation become monolinguals in the language of the host country (Stoessel, 2002). This means that typically, members of the third generation lose their heritage language as a consequence of the language shift which occurred across generations (Baker, 2006).

            It has been discussed in several investigations that  most immigrants tend to promote the acceleration of their children’s second language learning, but ironically they fail to see the possible risk of their children losing their  L1 as they acquire their L2 (Filmore, 2000). Unfortunately, it has been found that the loss of heritage language occurs between the second and third generation (Hickey, 2010). Therefore, language loss is one of the main consequences of language shift and in a broader view language shift has also been identified as the first step towards language death, which can also affect a whole community (Nawanz, Umer, Anjum, & Ramzan, 2012).

            With this in mind, the loss of the heritage language has been identified to have serious negative consequences. According to Potowski (2013), loss of heritage language might generate feelings of linguistic insecurity and identity loss.  Moreover, as language shift promotes the eruption of the language heritage, devastating consequences have been found to exist in the family of those who suffer from language shift across their family generations (Zhou & Bankston, 2000). For instance, some of the consequences resulting from language shift are the weakening of the family relationships (Mouw & Yu, 1999; Potowski, 2013), parental authority diminished (Edstrom, 2010; Guardado, 2006), weakness of communication among members of different generations (Filmore, 2000; Donghui, 2010), and the loss of family and ethnic values transmission (Ishizawa, 2004; Potowski, 2013).

            To see some of the possible consequences and effects of language shift across generations, continue with the activities presented in this module.