Language shift and maintenance of the Korean community in Australia

Abstract

Abstract This study is a follow-up study of Shin and Jung’s (2016, 2018) research that has examined language shift and maintenance of the Korean community in Australia reflected in the previous Australian Censuses from 2006 to 2016. The present study analysed the 2021 Census and updated the Korean community’s language shift and maintenance with the latest census data. It examined the community’s language shift by various sociodemographic factors such as generation, age, gender, education, and religion and compared the results of the analyses with the previous studies’ findings. The results of this study revealed that in the 2021 Census, the shift to English in the first generation increased from the 2016 Census, possibly due to the restricted migration of Koreans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results confirmed that the inter-generational language shift (i.e., the increase in language shift by generation) is taking place in the Korean community in Australia, and that it is progressing further. The results showed similar patterns and trends in the extent of language shift by different sociodemographic factors and variable that had been observed in the previous censuses. Language shift was higher in females than in males in the first generation, but the pattern was reverse in age groups younger than 35 years old. Those with certain educational qualifications (e.g., a graduate diploma or certificate) had a higher shift rate. On the other hand, lower shift was observed among those affiliated with the religions/denominations with a strong presence of Korean immigrants in the community. These findings provide valuable insights to the community’s language shift to English and its maintenance of the Korean language regarding its unique temporal and locational circumstances such as the temporary stop of the influx of South Koreans in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and its language practice.