Kolner Zeitschrift fur Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie
Volume 66, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 241-262
Minority Language Proficiency of Adolescent Immigrant Children in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden [Herkunfts-Sprachkompetenz von jugendlichen Immigranten in England, Deutschland, den Niederlanden und Schweden] (Article)
van Tubergen F.* ,
Mentjox T.
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a
Department of Sociology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, Utrecht, 3584, Netherlands
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b
Department of Sociology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, Utrecht, 3584, Netherlands
Abstract
We study minority language proficiency of adolescent immigrant children in England, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. We elaborate on theoretical mechanisms of exposure, efficiency and non-economic incentives of minority language acquisition. Using data from adolescent immigrant children in England, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, we find evidence for the role of exposure in that immigrant children who were born abroad were more proficient than those born in the host country. Exposure via the percentage of co-ethnics at school is positively related to minority proficiency, whereas parental proficiency in the destination language is negatively associated. Also belonging to a larger immigrant group increases exposure to the minority language and results in language retention. Efficiency in terms of cognitive abilities does not play a role. Non-economic incentives to retain the minority language, indicated by the ethnic identification of parents, is positively related to the child’s minority language proficiency and this relationship is stronger when the quality of the parent-child relationship is higher. © 2014, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84919903042&doi=10.1007%2fs11577-014-0273-6&partnerID=40&md5=b7f6681c7f04fef014bfb6bf4514ed2a
DOI: 10.1007/s11577-014-0273-6
ISSN: 00232653
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English