Do Birds Singing the Same Song Flock Together? Social Homophily Based on Language

• In Event: 14.044 - Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: 14.044-10 - Linguistic Beliefs, Heritage Language, and Research Funding: Impacts From Institutional Policies to Individual Relationships

Abstract

Using a mixed method design and inspired by opportunity structure theory, contact theory, group threat theory and theory on linguistic status differences, we examine the effects of linguistic diversity and tolerance towards multilingualism on same-language friendships. Multilevel modeling showed that for multilingual pupils, the positive effect of linguistic diversity on same-language friendships was suppressed by the negative effect of tolerant practices towards multilingualism. For Dutch-only home pupils, tolerance did not mediate the negative effect of linguistic diversity on same-language friendships. The insignificant effect of tolerance in Dutch-only home pupils can be explained by the strong dominance of Dutch as came out of the qualitative analysis of focus groups.

Authors

• Anouk Van Der Wildt, Ghent University

• Piet Van Avermaet, Ghent University