A Language Contact Perspective on Heritage Languages in the Classroom

This chapter provides an overview of possible outcomes of language contact as a starting point for discussion on contact-induced linguistic variation in the heritage classroom. The rationale for this discussion is that variation awareness will enable students to reflect on their language use without evaluative labels like correct and incorrect. An open mind to language variation is especially important in the heritage classroom, because the heritage language connects the students directly to their parents. Criticizing the variant the student speaks implies indirect critique on their parents and might cause the student to feel that they do not belong to their ethnic linguistic community because they do not speak properly. Knowledge of sources of contact-induced variation and sources of social values on variation will facilitate linguistic awareness and linguistic self-confidence.