Sprachwechsel, Spracherhalt und Sprachverlust deutschsprachiger Migrantinnen im Norden Finnlands

Abstract

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences and views on language shift, language maintenance and language loss of four German-speaking migrants living in northern Finland. The study is part of the project “German speakers in North Finland”that aims to give a comprehensive inventory of language identities, multilingual communicative practices and strategies of language maintenance and inter-generational language socialization of German-speaking migrants in northern Finland. The informants in this study came to Finland as adults and have similar educational backgrounds. However, they differ in terms of age, length of stay and place of residence, which has an impact on opportunities to use the first language. Two of them are young students whocame to northern Finland only a few years ago and live in university towns. The two others are in their late 50s and early 60s and have lived in Finland for 27 and 15 years, most of that time in small villages. The thematic analysis of the interviews shows that all four informants have changed their language during their time in Finland. While the two older informants have changed to Finnish, the two younger informants have changed to English as their dominant language. Despite the language shift, German plays a role for all informants, even if only a minor role for the two older ones. Language loss is perceived by all four informants, but is not primarily understood as a deficit, but as a “natural”consequence of migration. Important factors influencing these processes are the family situation, the language skills of the partners and the place of residence. The analysis shows that living in northern Finland influences access to the German language and contacts with other German-speaking people. Above all, in small villages Finnish is the predominant means of communication and contacts with the German language are mainly limited to the private domain.