Heritage Speakers

Who are 'heritage speakers'?


The term 'heritage speaker' refers to a person who comes from a home where a language other than English is spoken, who speaks or understands the home language, and who is more or less bilingual in English and the home language.

Immigration has made America more linguistically diverse than it has ever been. Data from the 2000 U.S. census shows that over 26% of Californians were born outside of the U.S., and that more than one language is spoken in 40% of California households. Nationwide, one in five children enters school speaking a language other than English.

Unfortunately, these children lose most of their native language in the process of learning English. Heritage languages typically die out within three generations. American schools generally ignore or even suppress the languages immigrant children bring with them. Giving up one's native language often is seen as a natural result of assimilation.

http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/november/USlanguages.html


Am I a "heritage speaker"?