Linguistic Profiling of Heritage Speakers of an Endangered Language: The Case of Vlach Aromanian–Greek Bilinguals

Alexandra Prentza,Maria Kaltsa

doi:10.1515/opli-2020-0034

Alexandra Prentza, Maria Kaltsa

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1515/opli-2020-0034

Copy DOI

Abstract

AbstractThis is the first attempt to profile the heritage speakers of an endangered spoken-only variety of Vlach Aromanian in Greece. Neither the variety nor its speakers has been investigated before; hence, the study also aims at evaluating the exact state of endangerment of the Sirrako variety, as this is revealed by the language practices and skills of its bilingual speakers. To this aim, a background questionnaire was developed and administered to 60 bilingual speakers of Vlach Aromanian and Greek including questions on the age of onset of exposure to both languages, early home language practices, current language practices (orality and literacy) and attitudes toward the heritage and majority language. Significant variation in language practices, literacy skills, oral input and current competence across three generations of speakers was identified with a substantial decline in heritage language competence in younger bilinguals, verifying our claim of the endangered state of Vlach Aromanian.

Highlights

This study constitutes the first attempt to provide the linguistic profile of speakers of a heritage and endangered language, namely, a spoken-only variety of Vlach Aromanian (VA) in the community of Sirrako in Epirus, Northern Greece ( VA of Sirrako, i.e., VAS)
VA is spoken in various parts of Northern Greece; while linguistic fieldwork has been conducted for other varieties of VA, little is known about the variety of VAS
The present study attempted to explore the profile of VAS/Greek bilingual speakers underlining the role of a heritage and endangered language in their overall bilingual development

Summary

Introduction

This study constitutes the first attempt to provide the linguistic profile of speakers of a heritage and endangered language, namely, a spoken-only variety of Vlach Aromanian (VA) in the community of Sirrako in Epirus, Northern Greece ( VA of Sirrako, i.e., VAS). The study aims at evaluating the exact state of endangerment of the VAS language, as this is revealed by the language practices and skills of its bilingual speakers. To this end, we recruited informants across three generations who are bilingual speakers of VAS and Standard Modern Greek which is the majority language. In the light of those previous studies, VAS appears to be characterized by different grammatical features with respect to phonology, morphosyntax and lexicon that render the communication between its speakers and speakers

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion