Multilingualism and Gendered Immigrant Identity

Farah Ali

Description

Offers a unique lens to explore language use and acculturation by immigrant women in Catalonia

This book examines the intersectionality of gendered, religious identity among Muslim women in Catalonia, and illustrates how this identity is brokered through language use in a multilingual and diasporic context. Drawing on a mixed methods study of 1st and 2nd generation immigrant women, this book also examines how acculturation is a transgenerational process reflected in linguistic behavior. Through the use of questionnaire and interview data, the author constructs a story about informants’ experiences navigating life vis-à-vis language use; specifically through the use of Spanish, Catalan and native/heritage languages. This book offers a unique lens through which we can further our understanding of the role of language in the acculturation process in Catalonia. It adds to the ongoing discussion about language and migration in Catalonia and provides a valuable contribution to debates about immigrant women’s language learning and use.

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Language Use and Language Policy in Catalonia

Chapter 3. Acculturation and Negotiating Identity

Chapter 4. Research Design

Chapter 5. Spaniard on Purpose: Narratives of First Generation Informants

Chapter 6. In Two Worlds: Narratives of Second Generation Informants

Chapter 7. Catalan, Spanish and Heritage Languages: Reported Language Use and Attitudes

Chapter 8. Implications for Sociolinguistic Research

Chapter 9. Implications for Language and Immigrant-Targeted Policies

Appendix A: Questionnaire

Appendix B: Interview Questions

References

Index

Sujets

• Women's Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Linguistics
• Multilingualism
• Professional
• Emigration
• Postgraduate education
• General officer
• Spanish
• General
• Research
• Postgraduate
• Migration
• Catalan
• Immigration

Informations

• Publié par: Channel View Publications
• Date de parution: 13 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781800412095
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Multilingualism and Gendered Immigrant Identity
MULTILINGUAL MATTERS
Series Editors: Leigh Oakes, Queen Mary, University of London, UK and Jeroen Darquennes, Université de Namur, Belgium .
Multilingual Matters series publishes books on bilingualism, bilingual education, immersion education, second language learning, language policy, multiculturalism. The editor is particularly interested in ‘macro’ level studies of language policies, language maintenance, language shift, language revival and language planning. Books in the series discuss the relationship between language in a broad sense and larger cultural issues, particularly identity related ones.
All books in this series are externally peer-reviewed.
Full details of all the books in this series and of all our other publications can be found on http://www.multilingual-matters.com , or by writing to Multilingual Matters, St Nicholas House, 31–34 High Street, Bristol, BS1 2AW, UK.
MULTILINGUAL MATTERS: 174
Multilingualism and Gendered Immigrant Identity
Perspectives from Catalonia
Farah Ali
MULTILINGUAL MATTERS
Bristol • Jackson
DOI https://doi.org/10.21832/ALI2071
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
Names: Ali, Farah, author.
Title: Multilingualism and Gendered Immigrant Identity: Perspectives from Catalonia / Farah Ali.
Description: Bristol, UK; Jackson, TN: Multilingual Matters, 2022. | Series: Multilingual Matters: 174 | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “This book examines the intersectionality of gendered, religious identity among Muslim women in Catalonia, and illustrates how this identity is brokered through language use in a multilingual and diasporic context. It offers a unique lens through which we can further our understanding of the role of language in the acculturation process”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022026106 (print) | LCCN 2022026107 (ebook) | ISBN 9781800412071 (hardback) | ISBN 9781800412064 (paperback) | ISBN 9781800412088 (pdf) | ISBN 9781800412095 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Women immigrants—Spain—Catalonia—Social conditions. | Muslim women—Spain—Catalonia—Social conditions. | Catalan language—Social aspects. | Group identity—Spain—Catalonia. | Intersectionality (Sociology)—Spain—Catalonia.
Classification: LCC JV8258 .A46 2022 (print) | LCC JV8258 (ebook) | DDC 305.48/892764046—dc23/eng/20220809
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022026106
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022026107
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue entry for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN-13: 978-1-80041-207-1 (hbk)
ISBN-13: 978-1-80041-206-4 (pbk)
Multilingual Matters
UK: St Nicholas House, 31–34 High Street, Bristol, BS1 2AW, UK.
USA: Ingram, Jackson, TN, USA.
Website: www.multilingual-matters.com
Twitter: Multi_Ling_Mat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/multilingualmatters
Blog: www.channelviewpublications.wordpress.com
Copyright © 2023 Farah Ali.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.
The policy of Multilingual Matters/Channel View Publications is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products, made from wood grown in sustainable forests. In the manufacturing process of our books, and to further support our policy, preference is given to printers that have FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. The FSC and/or PEFC logos will appear on those books where full certification has been granted to the printer concerned.
Typeset by SAN Publishing Services.
Printed and bound in the UK by the CPI Books Group Ltd.
Contents
Acknowledgments
1 Introduction
Dispatches from Barcelona
Gendered Immigrant Identity in Catalonia
Islam and Muslim Speech Communities
Overview of Chapters
2 Language Use and Language Policy in Catalonia
Introduction
Languages of Catalonia: Present Day and Historical Overview
Shifts to Democracy, Shifts in Ideology and Policy
Migration and Immigrant Languages in Catalonia: Maintenance and Shift
Conclusion
3 Acculturation and Negotiating Identity
Introduction
Discursively Negotiating Gendered Identity
Intersectionality: Gender and Religion
Linguistic Identity Among Immigrants in Catalonia: Adopting Catalan and Spanish
Acculturation, Investment and Language Learning
Acculturation and Immigrant Identity
Conclusion
4 Research Design
Introduction
Setting
Researcher Positionality and Informant Recruitment
Informants
Data Collection Tools
Questionnaire
Interview
Method of Analysis
Notations
5 Spaniard on Purpose: Narratives of First-Generation Informants
Introduction
Connections to the TL Community: Navigating with Catalan, Spanish and Other Local Languages
Disconnect from the TL Community: The Role of Linguistic and Cultural Differences
Connections to Immigrant Communities
Additional Comments
6 In Two Worlds: Narratives of Second-Generation Informants
Introduction
Connections to Immigrant Communities: Heritage Language Use
Connections to the TL Community: The Role of Catalan
Heritage Languages and Racism: The Role of TL Community Attitudes
Multilingualism and Dual Identity
Additional Comments
7 Catalan, Spanish and Heritage Languages: Reported Language Use and Attitudes
Introduction
Reported Language Use
Language Attitudes: Likert-Scale Statements
Language Attitudes: Speaker Traits
Connecting Reported Language Use to Attitudes
8 Implications for Sociolinguistic Research
Introduction
Immigrants’ Experiences with Societal Multilingualism
Intersectional Identities in Sociolinguistic Research
Future Directions
Conclusion
9 Implications for Language and Immigrant-Targeted Policies
Introduction
Language Policy in Practice: Informants’ Perspectives
Problematizing Language Policy and Planning
Final Remarks
Appendix A: Questionnaire
Appendix B: Interview Questions
References
Index
Acknowledgments
First, I am thankful to Allah, subhan ahu wata ʿ ala (God, the Glorious and Exalted) for blessing me with the ambition and work ethic that carried me through to the completion of this project.
I would also like to acknowledge the various sources of support I received throughout this lengthy journey: the study that is detailed in this book could not have been completed without the funding I received as a doctoral student at the University at Albany, SUNY. This includes funding from the Graduate Student Association (research grant), Benevolent Association (research grant) and Initiatives for Women (Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund Award). I am also grateful to my dissertation committee members – Dora Ramírez and Elizabeth Lansing – for providing me with helpful feedback when this book was still a dissertation, along with my advisors: the late Maurice Westmoreland, who served as my dissertation adviser until his untimely passing, as well as Megan Solon, who graciously stepped into that role and directed my work until I graduated. I am incredibly thankful to them both for their support and guidance, particularly during a time when achieving this goal seemed insurmountable.
As I worked toward transforming the dissertation into a book, so many others contributed either directly in helping me develop my manuscript, or otherwise offered various other forms of support to me. I appreciate the anonymous feedback that I received on my first draft, and so I wish to offer my thanks to whomever is responsible for providing me with so many helpful comments, suggestions and encouragement. I also want to thank my colleagues and friends who offered publishing advice, moral support, inspiration (academic and otherwise), reasons to always be excited about sociolinguistics and, most importantly, reasons to smile and laugh. Many thanks to these colleagues and friends: Sahar Ejaz, Carol Ready, Sherez Mohamed, Rochelle Compaoré, Marina Scatolin, Melissa Potts, Monique Mendoza, Daniela Orozco, Paul Johnson, Carmen Eugenia Nieves Rosado and Caleb Rivera-Bloodworth.
I’d also like to acknowledge two significant mentors who shaped my academic and professional trajectory: first, the late Flore Zephir, whose mentorship, unwavering support and sunny smile will never be forgotten. Second, a special thanks to John Zemke. No professor has played a more significant role in my professional development, nor invested so much in my well-being. I would not be where I am today without his mentorship and friendship.
There are also people who have simply been in my life for so long; their love and support pre-date the conception of this book and will continue well after its publication. I am grateful to and cherish my family, the whole unruly bunch: Ami (mom), Daji (dad), Nani (granny), Sarah, Jawad, Abrar, Nimra, and especially the newest and undoubtedly most beloved members: Abdullah and Hasan.
Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to the 34 women who participated in this study. These women invited me into their homes, even took me in as a lodger, fed me, connected me with their friends and made me feel welcome whenever I was in their company. I thank them for sharing themselves with me.
This book is dedicated to those women, and to all of the brave and resilient souls who are searching for a place to belong.
1 Introduction
Dispatches from Barcelona
I was a seasoned reader of research, if not a seasoned researcher, when I first conducted fieldwork for my doctoral dissertation. At the time, my theoretical knowledge of sociolinguistics born out of coursework, textbooks and journal articles seemed like sufficient preparation for my first major research endeavor. As it turned out, this was most certainly not the case. As a Spanish-speaking Muslim woman, the task of taking up a brief residence in Barcelona in order to connect