Socio-Linguistic Factors in Second Language Lexical Knowledge: The Case of Second-Generation Children of Russian-Jewish Immigrants in Israel

Autor/inn/en	Schwartz, Mila; Kozminsky, Ely; Leikin, Mark
Titel	Socio-Linguistic Factors in Second Language Lexical Knowledge: The Case of Second-Generation Children of Russian-Jewish Immigrants in Israel
Quelle	In: Language, Culture and Curriculum, 22 (2009) 1, S.15-28 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0790-8318
Schlagwörter	Semitic Languages; Jews; Sociolinguistics; Child Language; Parent Role; Foreign Countries; Vocabulary Development; Russian; Educational Experience; Language Proficiency; Socioeconomic Status; Second Language Learning; Questionnaires; Measures (Individuals); Parent Background; Language Usage; Family Environment; Sociocultural Patterns; Israel + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Arabisch; Hebräisch; Jew; Jude; Jüdin; Juden; Soziolinguistik; 'Children''s language'; Kindersprache; Parental role; Elternrolle; Ausland; Wortschatzarbeit; Russisch; Bildungserfahrung; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Socio-economic status; Sozioökonomischer Status; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fragebogen; Messdaten; Elternhaus; Sprachgebrauch; Familienmilieu; Soziokulturelle Theorie
Abstract	The factors affecting the mastery of the host country's language by the children of immigrants are important in the study of immigration-related issues. This exploratory study analyses the possible link between parental socio-linguistic background factors (parent-child language choice, parental proficiency in L2, educational level, socio-economic status, and the length of residence in the host country) and the children's social milieu on the one hand and children's lexical knowledge of L2 on the other among Russian-Jewish immigrants to Israel. Participants in the study were 70 Russian-Hebrew speaking children with a mean age of 7 years 2 months and their parents, all Russian-Jewish immigrants in Israel. After investigating the factors that influence Hebrew (L2) vocabulary knowledge, we constructed a composite measure of Hebrew lexical knowledge. In addition, structured questionnaires for parents and children were developed to collect data on target socio-linguistic factors. The findings showed that variability in children's L2 lexical knowledge can be understood, to some extent, by three background factors: parents' educational level, parents' educational experience in the host country, and the length of family residence in the host country. At the same time, the role of parent-child language choice, parental L2 proficiency, and children's social milieu was found to be insignificant. These data are discussed in the context of the distinctive socio-cultural characteristics of the Russian-Jewish immigrant community in Israel. (Contains 4 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10