Cultural Identity Among Early Kurdish Bilinguals in Erbil: A Sociolinguistic Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21271/zjhs.29.SpB.33الكلمات المفتاحية:
Bilingualism, Early Kurdish Bilinguals, Cultural Identity, Sociolinguisticsالملخص
From a sociolinguistic perspective, this article examines the impact of acquiring English on the acculturation of Kurdish adolescents in Erbil. As language and culture are interconnected, cultural identity is constructed through language, yet it also influences how language is used. Problems arise when extended exposure to a foreign language leads to a loss of sense of identity. Contemporary research has indicated that the culture associated with a globalised language (English in this case) either subtracts from or adds to a speaker’s existing cultural identity. This study employs a quantitative approach, using data collected through a questionnaire from 116 respondents. The results show that the impact of English on cultural identity has either diminished the subjects’ original Kurdish language and cultural identity or led to a hybrid formation of identity, blending elements of both cultures.
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