Redefining cultural identity through language in young Romanian migrants in Spain

Petreñas, Cristina; Lapresta Rey, Cecilio; Huguet, Àngel

doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2016.1221416

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Issue date

2016-08-26

Author

Petreñas, Cristina

Lapresta Rey, Cecilio

Huguet, Àngel

Suggested citation

Petreñas, Cristina; Lapresta Rey, Cecilio; Huguet, Àngel; . (2016) . Redefining cultural identity through language in young Romanian migrants in Spain. Language and Intercultural Communication, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2016.1221416.

Abstract

This article presents an analysis based on theories of interactionism of the Self on how young Romanian immigrants in Catalonia (Spain) redefine their cultural identity in the host country. The article also discusses how interactions with their significant others and access to different symbolic worlds through different languages condition this redefinition. The results have been obtained through the completion and analysis of 22 in-depth semi-structured interviews. The main results show there is a tendency to construct a fluctuating identity regulated by the interactions that the youngsters maintain with their significant others. In their self-identification, the valuation appears about what it means to be included in or form a part of the host society, which can in time make their cultural identity of origin invisible. It is observed how the length of stay factor leads to a progressive loss of their culture of origin, made evident when they begin to stop making use of Romanian in a family context. Finally, the role played by progressive access to diverse symbolic worlds in a plurilingual context in the said redefinition is explored.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/60256

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2016.1221416

Is part of

Language and Intercultural Communication, 2016