Language use and multiple identities in interlingual couples : case studies of Canadian-Japanese couples in Toronto
Language use and identity negotiation are realities that are constantly being debated among interlingual couples1. This case study explores language use and multiple identities among Canadian-Japanese couples living in Toronto. The following are the three major research questions that guide this study: (1) What are the characteristics and patterns of interlingual couples' language use? (2) What is the relationship between language use and identity? (3) How does the language use relate to other sociocultural characteristics such as family, friendship, education, employment, and religion?The main purposes of this case study are (1) to examine some of the reasons underlying interlingual couples' language choice as well as patterns of language use and (2) to ascertain how the language use is related to their identities and how interlingual couples negotiate their multiple identities. In order to tackle these questions, Fishman's construct of "domain" (1972) and Bourdieu's key notion of "linguistic capital" (1991) are used to form a conceptual framework. Fishman used the term "domain" to describe not only individual social situations but also how language use differs from one situation to another. Bourdieu used the term "linguistic capital" to refer to the prestige built up through one's linguistic practices based on one's position in the social structure. Importantly, this can never be neutral because this notion is determined by one's social position including race, class, and gender. The methodology employed is a qualitative case study using semi-structured interviews which involved three separate interviews with four interlingual couples (four Canadians and four Japanese). All data were audio-taped, and transcribed. Canadians' responses were transcribed into English and Japanese participants' responses were transcribed into Japanese, and analyzed using the method of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The major finding of this study is that English tends to dominate the language use among interlingual couples in Toronto, although there are many factors that affect interlingual couples' language use, ranging from language proficiency, location, appropriateness, power relations and anxiety.1 Interlingual couples refer to couples where two partners come from different ethnic groups and speak different languages
Diplomová/disertační práce, English, 2008