Divergent Perspectives on Identifying Heritage Speakers: Unraveling the Complex Differences in How Speakers See Themselves and Others.
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| Title: | Divergent Perspectives on Identifying Heritage Speakers: Unraveling the Complex Differences in How Speakers See Themselves and Others. |
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| Authors: | Jung, Caroline1 (AUTHOR), Roberts, Adam Charles2 (AUTHOR), Ixmata Schaaff, Jab'ellalih1 (AUTHOR), Kim, Yoolim1,3 (AUTHOR) ykim6@wellesley.edu |
| Source: | Journal of Language, Identity & Education. Jul/Aug2026, Vol. 25 Issue 4, p1159-1171. 13p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Language ability, *Dominant language, Heritage language speakers, Identity (Psychology), Ethnicity, Korean language |
| Abstract: | This study proposes new considerations in how heritage speakers (HS) are defined. Often, they are defined as speakers of a language associated with their heritage or ethnic identity, but seldom do definitions consider the role of linguistic traits and changing attitudes of the heritage speakers themselves, especially when self-identifying or identifying others as such. We analyze which linguistic traits are most important when (a) self-identifying and (b) identifying others as a heritage speaker of Korean. We find that traits (ranging from type of language input to family circumstances to language dominance and proficiency) are differentially important depending on whether speakers are asked to identify themselves, or others when presented with and asked to identify specific speaker profiles. Our findings reveal that significant predictors for identifying oneself as a heritage speaker are grounded in factors that are fixed (e.g., whether you are born in the United States or if one's first language is Korean or not), fortifying the connection to the "heritage," while significant predictors for identifying others focus more on the ways in which speakers interact with the language (e.g., the language spoken at home or within the ethnic community), emphasizing more being a "speaker" of the language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Language, Identity & Education 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. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 195034638 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Divergent Perspectives on Identifying Heritage Speakers: Unraveling the Complex Differences in How Speakers See Themselves and Others. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jung%2C+Caroline%22">Jung, Caroline</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roberts%2C+Adam+Charles%22">Roberts, Adam Charles</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ixmata+Schaaff%2C+Jab'ellalih%22">Ixmata Schaaff, Jab'ellalih</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Yoolim%22">Kim, Yoolim</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ykim6@wellesley.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Language%2C+Identity+%26+Education%22">Journal of Language, Identity & Education</searchLink>. Jul/Aug2026, Vol. 25 Issue 4, p1159-1171. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+ability%22">Language ability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dominant+language%22">Dominant language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heritage+language+speakers%22">Heritage language speakers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Identity+%28Psychology%29%22">Identity (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethnicity%22">Ethnicity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Korean+language%22">Korean language</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study proposes new considerations in how heritage speakers (HS) are defined. Often, they are defined as speakers of a language associated with their heritage or ethnic identity, but seldom do definitions consider the role of linguistic traits and changing attitudes of the heritage speakers themselves, especially when self-identifying or identifying others as such. We analyze which linguistic traits are most important when (a) self-identifying and (b) identifying others as a heritage speaker of Korean. We find that traits (ranging from type of language input to family circumstances to language dominance and proficiency) are differentially important depending on whether speakers are asked to identify themselves, or others when presented with and asked to identify specific speaker profiles. Our findings reveal that significant predictors for identifying oneself as a heritage speaker are grounded in factors that are fixed (e.g., whether you are born in the United States or if one's first language is Korean or not), fortifying the connection to the "heritage," while significant predictors for identifying others focus more on the ways in which speakers interact with the language (e.g., the language spoken at home or within the ethnic community), emphasizing more being a "speaker" of the language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Language, Identity & Education 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. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/15348458.2025.2466729 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 1159 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Language ability Type: general – SubjectFull: Dominant language Type: general – SubjectFull: Heritage language speakers Type: general – SubjectFull: Identity (Psychology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Ethnicity Type: general – SubjectFull: Korean language Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Divergent Perspectives on Identifying Heritage Speakers: Unraveling the Complex Differences in How Speakers See Themselves and Others. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Jung, Caroline – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Roberts, Adam Charles – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ixmata Schaaff, Jab'ellalih – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kim, Yoolim IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul/Aug2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 15348458 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 25 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Language, Identity & Education Type: main |
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