"Maybe Not 100%": Co-Constructing Language Proficiency in the Maya Diaspora

Autor/inn/en	Canizales, Stephanie L.; O'Connor, Brendan H.
Titel	"Maybe Not 100%": Co-Constructing Language Proficiency in the Maya Diaspora
Quelle	In: International Multilingual Research Journal, 16 (2022) 4, S.328-344 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (O'Connor, Brendan H.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1931-3152
DOI	10.1080/19313152.2022.2065598
Schlagwörter	Language Proficiency; Spanish; American Indian Languages; Native Language; Second Language Learning; Social Adjustment; Immigrants; Acculturation; Undocumented Immigrants; Unskilled Workers; English (Second Language); American Indians; Self Concept; Social Stratification; Social Differences; Futures (of Society); Youth; Socialization; Language Role; Foreign Countries; Young Adults; Hispanic Americans; California (Los Angeles); Guatemala + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Spanisch; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Soziale Anpassung; Immigrant; Immigrantin; Immigranten; Akkulturation; Illegaler Aufenthalt; Unskilled worker; Hilfsarbeiter; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; American Indian; Indianer; Selbstkonzept; Soziale Zusammensetzung; Sozialer Unterschied; Future; Society; Zukunft; Jugend; Jugendlicher; Jugendalter; Socialisation; Sozialisation; Ausland; Young adult; Junger Erwachsener; Hispanic; Hispanoamerikaner
Abstract	Language learning and the development of language proficiency are central concerns in the study of immigrant adaptation. This paper analyzes the social construction of language proficiency among Indigenous Guatemalan Maya youth in the United States--specifically, undocumented young adults who migrated to Los Angeles, California as unaccompanied minors and who grew up as low-wage workers. Our analysis shows that youth used "percentage talk"-- i.e., construing current proficiency as apercentage of idealized full proficiency-- as a discursive strategy to assess their language ability and level of social adaptación (adaptation) relative to native English and Spanish speakers, other Indigenous language speakers, and their past selves. Through percentage talk, youth wrestled with social stratification and inequality in the U.S. and Guatemala and imagined themselves as future members of Spanish- and English-oriented discourse communities. While outwardly individualistic, percentage talk also allowed youth to gauge their ability to support the language socialization and social incorporation of other L1 Maya speakers in diaspora. Youth's tricultural adaptation and contestation of an all-or-nothing ideology of proficiency shows their nuanced understanding of the role of language in immigrant socialization. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01