<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Multilinguals often report having different perceptions of themselves when switching languages, typically indicating their first language (L1) as the one in which they feel more authentic and describing a sense of detachment when using any foreign language (LX). This phenomenon amplifies in migration contexts, where the LX is the language of the host society. The present study approaches the topic in a holistic way, by interconnecting the L1 and LX dimensions and investigating their joint influence on migrants’ self-perceptions. Data from 468 Italian migrants living in English-speaking countries, supported by 5 in-depth interviews, revealed that the maintenance of an emotional and cognitive bond with the L1 anticipated stronger perceptions of self-change when speaking the LX. Conversely, higher levels of dominance in the LX and its use in social interactions predicted milder feelings of difference. Participants described their identity shifting as a reflexive sociolinguistic practice in response to their emotional and cognitive needs.</p>
</abstract>

Multilinguals often report having different perceptions of themselves when switching languages, typically indicating their first language (L1) as the one in which they feel more authentic and describing a sense of detachment when using any foreign language (LX). This phenomenon amplifies in migration contexts, where the LX is the language of the host society. The present study approaches the topic in a holistic way, by interconnecting the L1 and LX dimensions and investigating their joint influence on migrants’ self-perceptions. Data from 468 Italian migrants living in English-speaking countries, supported by 5 in-depth interviews, revealed that the maintenance of an emotional and cognitive bond with the L1 anticipated stronger perceptions of self-change when speaking the LX. Conversely, higher levels of dominance in the LX and its use in social interactions predicted milder feelings of difference. Participants described their identity shifting as a reflexive sociolinguistic practice in response to their emotional and cognitive needs.

A Constellation of Voices: How the Network of Languages in Migrants’ Minds, Hearts, and Interactions Shape Their Sense of Self

Discourses on Culture

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Multilinguals often report having different perceptions of themselves when switching languages, typically indicating their first language (L1) as the one in...

A Constellation of Voices: How the Network of Languages in Migrants’ Minds, Hearts, and Interactions Shape Their Sense of Self

Published Online: Dec 27, 2023

Page range: 49 - 84

Received: May 02, 2023

Accepted: Jun 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/doc-2023-0011

Keywords
self-perceptions, language dominance, emotion, language socialisation, migrants’ identities

© 2023 Alex Panicacci et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

A Constellation of Voices: How the Network of Languages in Migrants’ Minds, Hearts, and Interactions Shape Their Sense of Self

Published Online: Dec 27, 2023

Page range: 49 - 84

Received: May 02, 2023

Accepted: Jun 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/doc-2023-0011

Keywordsself-perceptions, language dominance, emotion, language socialisation, migrants’ identities

© 2023 Alex Panicacci et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
self-perceptions, language dominance, emotion, language socialisation, migrants’ identities