LANGUAGE USE OF MIGRANT FAMILIES IN FLANDERS & BRUSSELS: HOW DOES FAMILY LANGUAGE REFLECT FAMILY ACCULTURATION?

We investigate the determinants of language use between migrant parents and their children in Flanders. Coleman’s family capital theory serves as the theoretical orientation of the study. Differences in physical, human and social capital are believed to account for differences found between migrant families’ use of the heritage and/or destination language (Dutch) at home. Furthermore, we expect that variances in ethnic capital (e.g. ethnic background and ethnocultural family type) might explain different linguistic repertoires. Last but not least, family structure is believed to serve as a gateway through which different forms of family capital influence the use of heritage language. Data from 900 migrant adolescents from the Leuvens Adolescents’ and Families Study is analyzed by means of Multinomial Logistic Regression and subsequent Multilevel Regression Models where school and neighborhood variables are included. Preliminary correlation analyses indicate that language-use is related to background variables such as ethnicity and ethnocultural family type. Some family capital variables appear to be significant (parental conflict, parental dissolution, human & physical capital of mother) while others are not (relationship quality with parents & physical capital of father). More data will be collected during the fall of 2012.