German is the holy grail: language, migration and ethnolingual belonging in transnational spaces.

This study explores the dynamics of migration in the growing prominence of German in Nigeria, and the ways self-perception of language competence shapes ethnolingual belonging and future trajectories of transmigrant Nigerians residing in Germany. Drawing on promotional texts of German language schoo...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies Vol. 50; no. 14; pp. 3591 - 3609
Autor principal: Isiaka, Adeiza Lasisi
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Aug2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=178807404&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: hlh
    uiTerm: 178807404
    longDbName: Humanities International Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        1369183X
        56F
      jtl: Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies
      issn: 1369183X
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Aug2024
      vid: 50
      iid: 14
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
    artinfo:
      ui:
        178807404
        10.1080/1369183X.2023.2191159
      ppf: 3591
      ppct: 18
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
              size: 1.5MB
      tig:
        atl: German is the holy grail: language, migration and ethnolingual belonging in transnational spaces.
      aug:
        au: Isiaka, Adeiza Lasisi
        affil: Graduate Centre for Academic Communication, University of Toronto, Canada
      su:
        Language & languages
        Emigration & immigration
        Linguistics
        Nigerians
        Language acquisition
      sug:
        subj:
          Language & languages
          Emigration & immigration
          Linguistics
          Nigerians
          Language acquisition
      keyword:
        ethnolingual belonging
        German language learning
        Germany
        migration
        transmigrant Nigerians
      ab: This study explores the dynamics of migration in the growing prominence of German in Nigeria, and the ways self-perception of language competence shapes ethnolingual belonging and future trajectories of transmigrant Nigerians residing in Germany. Drawing on promotional texts of German language schools and migration-themed discourses on Nairaland, I show that while German is mainly espoused for migration purposes back at home, most Nigerians in Germany conceptualise belonging and otherness through the lens of language proficiency—a perspective that rationalises their inclination towards relocating to Anglophone destinations for greater linguistic capital and social inclusion. I argue that the narrowed view of German as a migration asset impedes its wider adoption and mainstreaming in the Nigerian linguistic market, and illuminate the complex nexus between language, racialisation, migration, and belonging, as well as the tenuous link between language learning and acculturation. The paper offers insights into the ways language competence shapes ethnolingual membership and migration patterns in a globalised world and suggests a nuanced understanding of new language acquisition.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: Y
      custom: Copyright of Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
      item: Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies
      holder: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      dt:
        @attributes:
          year: 2024
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N