Ministry of Higher Education &

scientific Research
Salahadin University- Erbil
College of Language-
Department of English.

‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

Language maintenance and shift

2016-2017
AWAN K.MUHAMMED
MA STUDENT
 Language Maintenance
“The study of how languages survive, or the
continuing use of (minority) language in the face
of a more regionally, socially or politically
dominant language.” (Van Herk, 2012)
Language shift

 Language shift refers to the process by which one language displaces

another in the linguistic repertoire of a community. It also refers to the
result of this process.

 “When a community does not maintain its language, but gradually

adopts another one, we talk about language shift.” (Hoffman, 1991)

 “The gradual replacement of one language by another as the primary

language of communication and socialization within a speech
community” (Van Herk, 2012)
 The factors which could contribute of language

 The patterns of language use

1-The dominant language is associated with social status and
prestige
2-Obtaining work is the obvious economic reason for learning
another language
3-The pressure of institutional domains such as schools and the
media
 Language shift in different communities

Migrant minorities
Non-migrant minorities
Migrant majorities
 Migrant minorities:

 In countries like England, Austraia, New Zealand and The USA, the school is the
of the first domain in which children of migrants families meet English. They may
have watched English TV programmes and heard English used in shops before
starting school, but at school they are expected to interact in English. They have
use English because it is the only means of communicating with the teacher and
other children. For many children of the migrants English soon becomes the
language for talking to other children-including their brothers and sisters.
Non-migrant communities:
Language shift is not always the result of migration.
Political , economic and social changes can occur within
community, and this may result in linguistic changes
As Iran struggles to achieve national unity , Farsi, the
language of the largest and most powerful group, the
Persian , can be considered a threat to the languages of
the minority ethnic groups
 Migrant Majorities

 People may shift both location and language because of the political and
economic factors.
Over the last couples of centuries, many speakers of Irish, Scottish Gaelic and
Welsh, for instance, have sifted to England, and consequently to English,
primarily in order to get work. They need English both for their job success an
for their social well-being to make friends. But we find the outcome is the
when it is the majority group who do the physical moving.
What are some factors which accelerate a language
shift?

“Social bilingualism, migration, industrilization, the school’s 

and government’s use of language, urbanization, the prestige
level of language, etc. (Cavallaaro, 2005)
 Demographic factors
 1-Language shift is faster in urban areas than rural
 2-The size of the group is some times a critical factor
 3-Intermarriage between groups can accelerate language shift

 Attitudes and values

 1-Language shift is slower among communities where the minority language
is highly valued, therefore when the language is seen as an important symbol
of ethnic identity its generally maintained longer, and visa versa.
 How can a minority language be maintained ?
 To consider language an important symbol of a minority group’s identity
 To live close to each other and see each other frequently
 To increase the degree and frequency of contact with the homeland
 To encourage members of a minority community to take active steps to
protect their language
 To use the language in different settings
 To have the support of institution
• The maintenance of a language can be measured
by the following factors:

A. The status of the language as indicated by attitudes

towards it.
B. The size of the group who uses the language and their
distribution
C. The extent to which the language enjoys institutional
support
Dimension for analyzing language
maintenance and shift

Dimension for analyzing language maintenance and shift

Thank you