The use of the heritage language among Asian American

 The use of the heritage language among Asian American

I recently held an interview with my friend’s grandmother that moved to the united states in the 1980s. She was a newly married woman that followed her husband to California several months after he got a job in the local manufacturing company. She explained the long process of getting to be recognized as a citizen and eventually being able to raise her family. I inquired how she had developed the use of the English language. She explained that despite the many years of living in the US, she still struggles with several English words. She expressed that all of her friends and people she interacts with are of the Chinese heritage; thus, she rarely speaks in English. To her, speaking in mandarin aids in maintaining her roots and feel the connection to the motherland. From this interview, it was interesting to understand the interaction between assimilation and culture. The majority of Asian Americans have been assimilated into American culture. In that, adoption of English as the primary language, participation in national culture, and holidays to mention but a few have been adopted by majority of Asian Americans. However, the concept of language is held dearly to most of the members. Several films such as AmerAsian, Documented and Left by the Last Ship illustrate the different ways in which the conflict of culture and assimilation is revealed in the community. Language is an essential identifier of the community; thus, it is maintained among family and friends. Although assimilation is crucial in the development of unity in the United States, the shared language among the Asian American community aids in illustrating shared history, enhanced contextual relevance, expression of shared identity, and the development of a new identity for immigrant communities.

Asian American communities make use of the language to ensure their unique identity is maintained. Language is a crucial aspect in the formation of personal identities. The use of Chinese or other Asian languages among the communities has been the defining feature in their communities, such as China Town, Korean towns, and Vietnamese Saigon, to mention but a few. As professors in North Carolina University and Mokpo University in South Korea explain, “one of the languages is the speaker’s heritage language, the benefits are even more substantial, contributing to the development of healthy self-identity, improving mental health and maintaining social identity” (Ji-Yeon and Seok-In 227). In that, the development of a strong connection of the immigrant community, either first, second, or third generation, allows them to maintain a strong sense of identity.

The author explains that although the majority of Koreans prefer to speak in English with peers in schools and other social gatherings, the primary a strong use of the language in the homes. Language, as used in the Asian American communities, serves as a link to the Chinese or Korean culture despite being in America. As the director of the movie, Document also emphasizes through the character of Antonio Vargas, where he seems to lack a clear identity based on not seeing the mother and freely communicating in his primary heritage language for ages (Vargas 10: 13). The film captures the challenge of identity in a land where a person is expected to live in a particular manner. The use of language also allows a group of people to express the context right as compared to second languages.

The use of the first languages in the Asian American societies aid in the creation of a correct context in words that would not fit in the meaning of other English words. The majority of people familiar with a different language as the first language tend to think and use the internal voice in that language. The use of foreign language works in the concept of interpretation to fit in society or interact with members of the community. The heritage language allows one to express themselves correctly hence gaining personal confidence, which is critical in the development of self-identity. As expressed in the interview conducted with my friend’s grandmother, it was evident that she could not express herself as well and make complete sense in the context of language. Through her interview, it was apparent that as a first-generation immigrant, she did not feel comfortable or well-understood while speaking to people in English. In her analysis, it was evident that she felt better when interacting with members of her community as she was well understood. The interview expresses the importance of using the second language for second language immigrants can be challenging in the correct expression of the message. In the text written by Amy Tan on the experiences of the mother, for example, in the phone conversation with a stockbroker, it is evident that the mother cannot express herself as well as when using Chinese (Tan 1). In both experiences, the grandmother and mother express the ability to easily explain themselves in the right context when making use of their first language. Apart from allowing the people to communicate effectively, language allows in creating shared heritage.

The use of the second language for immigrant communities allows the shared sense of belonging to exist among people of a common heritage. The use of a native language has allowed millions of people in the US from different nations and parts of the world to maintain their social communities. The continued use of the language has ensured the communities living in China town or Saigon to feel the same sense of belonging as thou they are home. According to Safran, “The Armenian diaspora condition resembles that of the Jews most closely. Armenian ethnicity and the solidarity of the Armenian community are based on a common religion and language, the collective memory of national independence in a circumscribed” (84). In that, the diaspora community of Armenians through the shared language can remember the shared history and current events. The shared identity in a foreign place is critical as it allows the community to feel a profound sense of belonging despite being immersed in a different culture. The same case applies to the Asian American communities in the United States. The continued identification through their first language has aided in the development of communities and shared history and practices such as the Lunar new year celebrations. The concept of a shared identity is also expressed in the film, Amerasians, as the college graduates struggle in finding a place in the American culture where he is discriminated based on culture (Lim 12:10). Finding a place in different societies is expressed as having the ability to integrate with the people based on shared heritage, which is expressed through language. Moreover, the use of shared language allows the culture to be carried from one generation to another.

The use of the ethnic language among Asian Americans allows for the continuity of the culture, thus teaching the younger generation the communal identity. The cultural heritage of the group of people in different parts of the world is expressed through different aspects such as language. The use of an ethnic language is essential in expressing the culture as it captures the different practices in the raw form. For example, Chinese celebrations are well expressed in the immigrant Asian American communities based on the shared use of the language. As the grandmother to my friend, Mrs. Lin explained in the interview, she was more drawn to practicing and adhering to her cultural practices as compared to her grandchildren that did not speak in mandarin. In the interview, it was evident that despite being in America for decades, she looked forward to taking part in Chinese celebrations every year. The continued use of the language in the host nation illustrates the bonding impact of Mrs. Lin with the Chinese culture. The sense of belonging expressed in the shared language with her peers meant they were eager to meet and express their ideas for all Chinese activities around the year. As highlighted in the analysis of Asian Americans’ use of language, “heritage language can illustrate processes of diasporic belonging and generational change” (Shankar et al., 7). In that, the reliance and upholding of cultural practices reduce notably with a change in the first language among second and third-generation immigrants. Nonetheless, the use of the heritage language is effective in passing down the shared culture from one generation to the other, especially in families through the sharing of values.

Furthermore, the continued use of heritage language influences family relations hence the development of personal identity. The family relations, in the same way as the community, are influenced by the use of a shared language. In Asian American families, the shared language in families allows the members to create an aspect of togetherness that is otherwise lost in the adoption of a new language for the immigrants. According to a scholar at Wayne State University, “cultural traditions and values and family knowledge are all passed on through the heritage language. Those who are unable to speak the language of their parents and community are unable to appreciate and take advantage of the various resources fully and shared knowledge” (Vallance 14). In that, the heritage language is used in the exchange of family traditions and values. The more a family uses the heritage language, the higher the chances of passing the family values to the next generation. In the process, the main aspect of togetherness and identity is developed among the members of society. The same concept is expressed in the study of Asian Americans that rely on media for learning and culture development as they miss out on the formation of traditions relevant to the community (Shankar et al. 8). The development of family values aids in the creation of Asian American identity, especially among young people in the host nation.

Conclusively, shared language plays an essential aspect in the development of an identity. The use of the heritage language among Asian American immigrants has allowed the community to uphold their cultural practices, create a sense of belonging, ensure the personal identity is cultivated, and ensuring perfection expression of issues to others. The use of language in the development of who a person is in the community and family is highly regarded by the language which they are used. The creation of identities relies on the relations with others in the community, thus allowing the development of perception of who a person is. The use of the heritage language has been a defining aspect in the development of the common identity among Asian Americans. Despite the two or three generations of immigrants in a family, the creation of the personal identity has been averagely similar, which can be attributed to the continuous use of the language in the families and communities.