38th Annual Student Research Conference
Factors Contributing to Heritage Language Maintenance and loss Among Iranian Immigrants
Sara Kangarloo
Dr. Emily Olsen, Faculty Mentor
Immigration driven by political, economic, and social factors influences linguistic adaptation. In immigrant communities, heritage language (HL) maintenance is a complex process shaped by sociolinguistic and psychological factors. HL refers to a minority language spoken outside the country where that language is considered dominant, and heritage speakers often face challenges maintaining their language across generations. Among some immigrant communities, especially those from Iran, political factors play a significant role in the maintenance and loss of Farsi. This influence is reflected through migration waves that primarily occurred after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 due to political instability, religious persecutions, and economic hardship. In addition, family and support groups can also play a role in HL maintenance either through strengthened parent-child bonds or negative psychosocial experiences. This paper explores the impact of prior life experiences in Iran, family dynamics, and social support on HL maintenance and loss among Iranian immigrants.
Keywords: Heritage Language, Iranian Immigrant, Heritage Speaker, Heritage Language Maintenance, Heritage Language Loss, Farsi, Iranian Diaspora
Topic(s):Linguistics
Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 304-3
Location: SUB Georgian A
Time: 1:30