Maintaining a Minority Language A Case Study

This book explores two main areas. First, what a high level of proficiency in two languages consists of, and second, what factors can produce this high level of bilingual proficiency. Higher level language is usually acquired at school, but many minority language students are educated in only one language. The book therefore examines other factors in the development of the minority language, such as home literacy practices and positive attitudes, that might contribute to the development of high bilingual proficiency.

John Gibbons is a professor in the English Department of Hong Kong Baptist University.

Acknowledgements

ix

Conventions

x

1 Introduction

1

(10)

Objectives

1

(2)

Factors in the Development of Bilingualism and Biliteracy

3

(3)

The Organisation of the Book

6

(1)

The Context of the Studies

6

(5)

2 Language Proficiency

11

(23)

Introduction

11

(4)

Academic Register in English

15

(7)

Academic Register in Spanish

22

(10)

Conclusion

32

(2)

3 Measuring Proficiency

34

(16)

Introduction

34

(1)

Assessing Proficiency

34

(7)

Scores on the Measures

41

(3)

Relationships Between the Measures

44

(5)

Conclusion

49

(1)

4 The Societal

50

(51)

Introduction

50

(3)

Political History

53

(2)

Geography

55

(2)

Status

57

(9)

Demography

66

(11)

Institutions

77

(7)

Media

84

(3)

Societal Variables: The Interviewees

87

(11)

Societal Variables: The Santiago Sample

98

(2)

Conclusions: The Two Samples

100

(1)

5 Interpersonal Contact

101

(42)

The Issues

101

(6)

Introduction

101

(1)

Social Networks

102

(5)

The Studies

107

(36)

Strong Network Ties

107

(23)

Distance Network Ties

130

(2)

Weak Network Ties/Domains

132

(11)

6 Education, Media Use and Literacy

143

(48)

The Issues

143

(9)

The Nature of Biliteracy

143

(7)

The Role of Education

150

(1)

Media

151

(1)

The Studies

152

(39)

Spanish-medium Education

152

(2)

The Study of Spanish in Mainstream Education

154

(1)

The Study of Spanish in Ethnic /Saturday Schools

154

(4)

Literacy Practices

158

(16)

Language and Literacy Resources

174

(6)

Media Use

180

(9)

Conclusions

189

(2)

7 Attitudes and Beliefs

191

(35)

The Issues

191

(8)

Introduction

191

(1)

Attitudes and Beliefs Concerning Language and Maintenance

191

(2)

Attitudes to Language

193

(2)

Attitudes to Bilingualism and Biculturalism

195

(1)

Attitudes to Maintenance/Vitality

196

(1)

Identity Beliefs /Attitudes

197

(1)

Taking Language Proficiency Seriously

198

(1)

Summary

199

(1)

The Studies

199

(27)

Introduction

199

(1)

Open Questions

199

(1)

Findings from the Open Questions

200

(12)

The Questionnaire

212

(10)

Discussion of the Questionnaire Findings

222

(2)

Conclusions

224

(2)

8 Conclusions

226

(8)

Methodology

226

(1)

Taking Proficiency Seriously

227

(1)

Factors in Maintenance

228

(3)

Practical Maintenance Measures

231

(2)

Conclusion

233

(1)

References

234

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Maintaining a Minority Language A Case Study of Hispanic Teenagers

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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