Language Acculturation and Social Capital Among Migrants in James Town, Accra

John Kwame Boateng ,Raymond Asare Tutu

doi:10.7176/jlll/68-06

Abstract

This study examines the relative effects of language acculturation on social capital accumulation in the context of a poor urban neighborhood in Accra, Ghana. Acculturation is a fluid concept with multiple dimensions. Generally, it has been described as the extent to which migrants adopt the customs and values of their host populations. The fluidity of the concept has led to different ways of measurement. While a number of studies have assessed acculturation using dimensions such as assimilation, integration, marginalization, and separation to understand migrants lived experiences, there is paucity of research on the impact of language acculturation on social capital formation. Language barrier has been found to be associated with adaptation difficulties among migrants while higher language competency is associated with well-being factors such as lower anxiety and depression. In this study, in the internal migration context, we examine if Ga language competency predicts social capital accumulation among 301 migrants. Using a semi-structured survey questionnaire, we elicited information about migrants' fluency in the Ga language and social capital variables from which a social capital index was created. Using Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA, at the bivariate level we fitted an ordinal logit regression model. We found that better Ga language fluency is associated with higher social capital. Religiosity (the extent to which the individual practices their religious beliefs) and marital status were significant predictors of social capital. It was concluded that low and high language acculturation was linked to poor and high self-rated health status of migrants in Jamestown. Keywords: Blended mode, online, Sakai LMS, interactivity, student learning DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/68-06 Publication date: May 31 st 2020

Highlights

Acculturation is said to be a multidimensional process of change in behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs in both a newly arrived group and the dominant culture with which it interacts (Schwartz, Unger, Zamboanga & Szapocznik, 2010). Kao (2006) noted that language acculturation has important implication in the formation of social ties and the acquisition of resources.Migration remains a global phenomenon
We examined the relative effects of language acculturation on social capital accumulation and questions whether the Ga language competency predicts social capital accumulation?
5.0 Conclusion This study has examined the relative effects of language acculturation on social capital accumulation in the context of a poor urban neighborhood in Accra, Ghana

Summary

Introduction

Acculturation is said to be a multidimensional process of change in behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs in both a newly arrived group and the dominant culture with which it interacts (Schwartz, Unger, Zamboanga & Szapocznik, 2010). Kao (2006) noted that language acculturation has important implication in the formation of social ties and the acquisition of resources.Migration remains a global phenomenon. Acculturation is said to be a multidimensional process of change in behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs in both a newly arrived group and the dominant culture with which it interacts (Schwartz, Unger, Zamboanga & Szapocznik, 2010). Kao (2006) noted that language acculturation has important implication in the formation of social ties and the acquisition of resources. Greater Accra region by far attracts more migrants (both internal and external migrants) than any other region in Ghana (Cassels, Jenness, Biney, Ampofo, & Dodoo, 2014; Personal observation by authors). Greater Accra region is the chief among them. Many such migrants end up in poor neighbourhoods in the city’s urban centres because they cannot afford rents in better and more expensive residential areas

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Conclusion