jean-pierre corbeil* statistics canada october 22, 2009 passing on ancestral languages * on behalf...
TRANSCRIPT
Jean-Pierre Corbeil*
Statistics Canada
October 22, 2009
Passing on
Ancestral Languages
* On behalf of Martin Turcotte, Statistics Canada, author of the study.
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada2
Background
Many immigrants hope that their mother tongue will be retained by their Canadian-born children.
Beyond the subjective cultural value, it can be an asset to know another language in addition to English or French.
Maintaining and transmitting the ancestral language depends on a number of factors (socio-demographic, cultural, socio-psychological, etc.)
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada3
Research Questions
To what extent have the respondents – persons born in Canada of allophone immigrant parents – acquired their parents’ mother tongue?
What proportion of respondents know the ancestral language? What proportion use it?
What factors are associated with a fairly strong probability of passing on the ancestral language?
Who are most likely to know and use their parents’ ancestral language at home?
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada4
Data and Methodology
Ethnic Diversity Survey of 2002• 40,000 respondents aged 15 and over• Selection of the respondents to this survey was based on
responses to the 2001 Census questions on ethnic origin and place of birth of individuals and their parents.
Target population of the study• Persons aged 15 and over born in Canada whose parents
were allophone immigrants (i.e., both parents were immigrants with a mother tongue other than English or French).
• 4,500 respondents, representing roughly 1.25 million Canadians.
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada5
Methodology (continued)
Results presented here are in percentage form. Logistic regression analyses were conducted,
holding the different factors constant.
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada6
The majority know the ancestral language but seldom use it in daily life
The ancestral language is...
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Respondent'smother tongue
Known byrespondent
Used at home on aregular basis*
Used outside thehome
Used at work
* Predominantly or otherwise
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada7
Ancestral languages most and least likely to be passed on to children as their mother tongue
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Punjabi Spanish Cantonese Korean Greek Creolelanguage
Tagalog Dutch Scandinavianlanguage
German
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada8
When the mother is more educated, transmission of the ancestral language is less frequent
0
20
40
60
80
Elementary Secondary Some post-secondary Post-secondary diploma
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada9
Acquisition of the ancestral language is less widespread in the younger cohorts
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
15 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 64 65 and over
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada10
The probability of acquiring the ancestral language as a mother tongue is highest in Quebec
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Atlantic Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia
Place of birth
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada11
Use of the language
Having acquired the ancestral language as a mother tongue does not mean that it will then be used frequently.
The probability of using the ancestral language, either predominantly or at least on a regular basis at home, varies according to language group but also and above all according to family situation (presence of immigrant parents in the household, spouse who knows the ancestral language, presence of children, etc.).
Results that follow: only for those with a knowledge of the ancestral language.
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada12
Having used the ancestral language with one’s parents in childhood favours its use later in life, as does living with the parents
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Used the ancestrallanguage most of the timewith parents before age 15
Did not mainly use theancestral language
Lives w ith parents (at leastone)
Does not live w ith parents
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada13
Persons born in Quebec are more likely to use the ancestral language at home
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Atlantic Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia
Place of birth
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada14
The strength of the sense of ethnic or cultural belonging makes a big difference in the use of the ancestral language at home
Use of the ancestral language at home by reported level of sense of ethnic or cultural belonging on a scale of one to five
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Not strong at all Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Very strong
Sense of ethnic or cultural belonging
% o
f use
of t
he la
ngua
ge in
the
hom
e
23-04-10Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada15
Conclusion
Approximately three respondents in four were able to carry on a conversation in their parents’ mother tongue.
However, only one-third of all respondents used this language on a regular basis (either predominantly or otherwise) at home.
The propensity to know and use the ancestral language varied from one linguistic group to another.
A higher level of education for the mother was generally associated with less transmission of the ancestral language.
The use of languages at home is affected by the family situation: language of spouse, presence of parents in the household, experiences during childhood.
Persons born in Quebec are the most likely to use the ancestral language at home.