Abstract
The substantial uptick in research on heritage languages over the past three decades has enhanced our understanding of the development of bilingual grammars throughout the lifespan. This interest has been accompanied by a noticeable increase of experimental work, often combined with some degree of formal rigor. Exclusively and predominantly formal research on these languages—especially studies whose empirical focus centers on moribund heritage varieties—occasionally encounters criticism, due primarily to a lack of understanding of the methodology and objectives of this body of research as a whole. The purpose of this positional essay is to once again elucidate with clarity the motivation and importance of formal linguistic research on these languages, providing a fruitful path forward for continued work in this well-established field of linguistic inquiry.
Highlights
Research focusing on heritage languages (HLs) has exponentially increased over the past three decades, contributing exciting and interesting findings, which in turn have enhanced our understanding of the human language faculty and the developmental trajectory of linguistic competence over the course of the lifespan
Our humble objective is to emphasize the importance of this research, but to provide a path forward that establishes a connection with theoretical work that connects with historical sociolinguistics (e.g., Geiger and Salmons, 2006; Litty, 2017; Lauersdorf, 2021). This manuscript adopts the following structure: In §2 we introduce and critique the common traits of moribund HLs, discussing how these factors contribute to challenges in data elicitation and documentation—especially when compared with current research efforts on HLs in other populations
To exemplify the level of complexity and innovation of HL grammars we report here on some general findings on American Norwegian (AmNo)
Summary
Research focusing on heritage languages (HLs) has exponentially increased over the past three decades, contributing exciting and interesting findings, which in turn have enhanced our understanding of the human language faculty and the developmental trajectory of linguistic competence over the course of the lifespan. The number of speakers of these HLs is usually quite small Due to these unique factors, research conducted in these communities—and the theoretical work that accompanies the collection and interpretation of data and behavioral responses—can differ, sometimes substantially, from other current research endeavors in linguistics. Our humble objective is to emphasize the importance of this research, but to provide a path forward that establishes a connection with theoretical work that connects with historical sociolinguistics (e.g., Geiger and Salmons, 2006; Litty, 2017; Lauersdorf, 2021) (for reasons we discuss below) This manuscript adopts the following structure: In §2 we introduce and critique the common traits of moribund HLs, discussing how these factors contribute to challenges in data elicitation and documentation—especially when compared with current research efforts on HLs in other populations.
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