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Regional language as a tool for integration? Romanians and Valencian Catalan
- Source: International Journal of Iberian Studies, Volume 25, Issue 1, Jul 2012, p. 41 - 60
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- 13 Jul 2012
Abstract
Spain has witnessed substantial migratory flows in the last decade, some of which have been concentrated in autonomous regions with co-official languages. This article examines the responses of one migrant community, the Romanians, to the presence of two official languages, Castilian and Valencian, where they work and whether the regional language (RL) can offer additional resources in the integrative process. It considers briefly the growth and specificity of Romanian migration to the Valencian region and examines the role of the discourse of Latinity in negotiating the situation of the Romanians within the host community and the perceptions and evaluations of language competences that emerge from it. It is suggested that the migration experience, particularly as temporary and circular trajectories, and transnational modes of living foster a critical language awareness. Ultimately, the socio-economic evaluation means that the Romanian migrants reproduce dominant language ideologies towards the co-official RL.