Abstract
This article examines how new speakers of Swedish in Finland position themselves vis-à-vis
the Swedish language in small stories about language and integration. It thereby contributes to the
growing field of research on new speakers of minority languages. The ten participants all migrated to
Finland at some point of their lives, and their interviews are studied with the help of positioning theory
and narrative analysis. The study finds that the reasons for learning Swedish vary, and learning Swedish
was not an active choice for all. Many participants link language skills with the labour market, and
while the majority consider it possible to get by with only Swedish in the small town in question, the
role of Finnish for certain jobs and for mobility is highlighted. The link between language and identity
is complex, and identification as Finland-Swedish does not seem to depend solely on language.
the Swedish language in small stories about language and integration. It thereby contributes to the
growing field of research on new speakers of minority languages. The ten participants all migrated to
Finland at some point of their lives, and their interviews are studied with the help of positioning theory
and narrative analysis. The study finds that the reasons for learning Swedish vary, and learning Swedish
was not an active choice for all. Many participants link language skills with the labour market, and
while the majority consider it possible to get by with only Swedish in the small town in question, the
role of Finnish for certain jobs and for mobility is highlighted. The link between language and identity
is complex, and identification as Finland-Swedish does not seem to depend solely on language.
| Translated title of the contribution | New speakers of Swedish in Finland: positioning in narratives of language and integration |
|---|---|
| Original language | Swedish |
| Title of host publication | Språkets funktion |
| Subtitle of host publication | Juhlakirja Urpo Nikanteen 60-vuotispäivän kunniaksi - Festskrift till Urpo Nikanne på 60-årsdagen - Festschrift for Urpo Nikanne in honor of his 60th birthday |
| Editors | Leena Maria Heikkola, Geda Paulsen, Katarzyna Wojciechowicz, Jutta Rosenberg |
| Publisher | Åbo Akademi University Press |
| Pages | 284-305 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-952-12-4062-1 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-952-12-4061-4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |
| MoE publication type | A3 Part of a book or another research book |