ERIC Number: EJ1389259
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1479-0718
EISSN: EISSN-1747-7530
The Differentiated Role of Language Knowledge and Linguistic Acculturation Strategies in the Configuration of Occupational Aspirations: The Case of the Descendants of Migrants in Western Catalonia
International Journal of Multilingualism, v20 n2 p153-168 2023
One of the most influential factors in the future access to the labour market of a young descendant of migrants is their occupational aspirations. Sociodemographic, socio-cultural, and socio-professional family elements or knowledge of languages are key in their formation. But in bilingual societies like Catalonia, the symbolism associated with languages is an added complexity.Thus, this article aims to analyse the influence and predictive power of linguistic knowledge and linguistic acculturation profiles on occupational aspirations, using a questionnaire completed by 205 young people of African, European, and Latin American origin in Lleida.The findings indicate that better knowledge of Catalan and a profile of linguistic acculturation which emphasises this language predict above-mean occupational aspirations. Knowledge of Spanish has an unclear role and a profile prioritising Spanish is a negative predictor.We conclude that language knowledge becomes a resource 'through' its symbolic value, questioning theories postulating that multilingualism always allows/facilitates access to better occupations.
Descriptors: Occupational Aspiration, Romance Languages, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Immigrants, Foreign Countries, Language Usage, Employment Potential, Language Proficiency, Profiles, Acculturation, Prediction, Spanish, Cultural Capital, Multilingualism
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Spain
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A