Acceso usuarios
Anita Mikalsen Vaskinn
, Bjørn Helge Handegård, Kristine Bentzen, Siv Kvernmo
Aims: This study investigates the intergenerational transmission of Sami languages across three generations, focusing on the influence of parental language input patterns and ethnic contexts on the child’s indigenous language acquisition. Design: Employing a longitudinal design, this research utilized quantitative data on language competence in grandparents, parents, and children. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to mothers before childbirth and when the child was 5 years old. Data and Analysis: The study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). The sample includes 169 Sami children. The Chi-square test of independence and Firth logistic regression were used to examine group differences in language transmission. Findings: Parental Sami language input and indigenous ethnic context significantly contribute to the transmission of Sami languages. The likelihood of Sami languages being passed on from parents to children was notably higher than from grandparents to parents, indicating a potential generational shift in language transmission. Originality: This is the first national-scale study in Norway investigating the impact of parental language input patterns within an indigenous setting in various ethnic contexts. By examining Sami language transmission over two generational shifts, this study provides insights into the dynamics of indigenous language transmission and its changes over time. Significance/Implications: This study confirms the importance of parental language input and the significance of ethnic context for indigenous language transmission. Some children learned the indigenous language even without parental input, emphasizing the importance of the educational system and broader society, as well as family in indigenous language revitalization.
