From assimilation to transnationalism: linguistic-migratory dynamics and paradigm shifts in their study

Abstract

The article aims to explore the development of migratory dynamics in the 20th century up to the present, focusing on the linguistic impact on migrant groups and individuals. It is based on two theoretical models: the classification proposed by Pries, who distinguishes between emigration/immigration, return migration and transnational migration as migratory types or models, which are predominant in different periods according to migration conditions and different conceptions of society; and – intertwined with this classification – the typology of acculturation strategies coined by Berry: assimilation, separation, marginalization and integration. I will analyze the linguistic implications of each of these three migration types with particular attention given to social networks and the linguistic repertoire of migrants, illustrating them with a selection of examples. At the end of my article, I will expand
Berry’s typology according to the characteristics of recent migratory movements and the current paradigm for their study in sociolinguistics.