Retention of Heritage Language as a Means of Encouraging Bilingual Essay

Retention of Heritage Language as a Means of Encouraging Bilingual Education Among Immigrants - Essay Example In this study, we examine the place of heritage language among immigrants and how this can form an important aspect of â€Å"America’s push to becoming a fully integrative and bilingual nation† (Chiswick and Miller 119). It should not be taken to mean that all in the American society share in the view that bilingual is a positive thing. In any case, the debate appears to be a divisive matter among scholars, policymakers and politicians. This study seeks to delve into the overall debate and demonstrate why heritage language is an opportune way of achieving this goal. Close reference will be given to the Hispanics; Hispanics are the fastest growing group of immigrants in United States. Bilingualism is a reality in modern day world. Firstly, the world’s projected 5000 languages are used in the globe’s 200 countries, representing an average of 25 languages for every state; â€Å"this means that interactions between citizens of numerous world countries clearly require extensive bilingualism† (Bhatia and Ritchie 1). At the moment, the processes of globalization are now in progress these developments heighten the extent and character of multilingualism, as citizens across the globe build awareness on the merits of adding a world language to their verbal repertoires (Bhatia and Ritchie 1). One must consider that, far from being exceptional, as most people believe, bilingualism and in extension multilingualism is at present the tenet all over the world and will turn out to be progressively more so in the future. Bilingualism is the ability to communicate in two languages. There is a difference between individuals and social bilingualism as well... This paper approves that parents and siblings are typically important in a student’s multi-literacy development. They often provide a literacy ‘eco-system’ where there is mutual support, adaptability, and linguistic survival and spread. Different languages may mean differing roles. This report makes a conclusion that heritage language degeneration is widespread in modern society, especially in U.S. where policies, social, economic as well as political activities are conducted in English. Most immigrants feel alienated mainly due to their insufficiency in the English language. Thus their first step is to learn English and sideline their heritage language albeit to gain acceptance from their native counterparts. This translates to a slow but sure death of the heritage language. This loss is not only a blow to efforts aimed at developing bilingualism but it also affects the culture and identity of the immigrants. Sooner or later, they feel misplaced and isolated as they lack a particular community, or society they can completely associate with. As gathered from this text, these are misplaced fears, as proved, retaining the heritage language does not in any way affect one’s capacity to understand a second language in any case it enhances one’s linguis tic capacity. In this case, there is no need to do away with the heritage language as a prerequisite in understanding English. This fact underlines the main point of this study that immigrants need to foster their heritage language even as they cultivate their understanding of the second language.