Multilingualism, Heterogeneity and the Monolingual Policies of the Linguistic Integration of Migrants

Abstract

Whereas societies become more international, they seem to loose their ability to deal with difference, foreignness and heterogeneity.

Most migrants construct their identities as multilingual identities with each language having a specific function in their biographies. An analysis of such biographies shows how deeply social contexts and education interfere with the attitudes towards and the growing or loss of languages as parts of their identities. If linguistic diversity is made invisible in public and in the educational system this may lead to suppression of multilingual identities and to assimilation.

Considering the changes in language requierements for migrants in Austria and other European countries two tendencies can be identified which counteract the proclaimed will to integrate migrants and to see linguistic diversity as a valuable ressource:

a) the reduction of integrative measures to language courses as if language alone is a sufficient factor to guarantee successful integration, although other factors such as access to labour market, equal rights and a safe status of residence are of similar or even greater importance;

b) the reduction of the language issues to a single aspect, namely the mastery of the language of the community of residence.

It is necessary to adapt language provision and integration measures to the needs and capacities of migrants which includes the fact of accepting their multiple and multilingual identities.

Based on facts established and arguments developed in cooperation with Verena Plutzar (cf. Krumm and Plutzar 2008). I am thankful to Markus Rheindorf who did the proofreading and improved the English of this text.