Migrationslinguistik – Eine Auseinadersetzung mit sprachlichen Phänomen im Kontext der Migration

The book “Migration Linguistics: An Introduction” by Nikolas Koch and Claudia Maria Riehl provides a comprehensive exploration of linguistic phenomena in the context of migration, particularly in the Federal Republic of Germany and Europe. The authors emphasize the cultural and linguistic richness that migrants bring to their host countries, illustrating this with case studies such as that of an Iranian girl who speaks multiple languages. The book is divided into several chapters, covering various aspects of migration linguistics. Starting with the definition and implications of migration and multilingualism, the work progresses through language policy issues, bilingual education, factors influencing second language acquisition, and complex linguistic phenomena such as language mixing, structural and semantic transfer. A particular focus is on the process of language acquisition across generations. The book examines both the preservation and loss of multilingualism within migrant families. Furthermore, it explores linguistic peculiarities of diaspora varieties, as observed in Russian or Turkish, for example. The book also delves into the influence of migrant languages on the language of the host society, as seen in the cases such as Turkish-German (Kanaksprak) in Germany. It addresses the significance of language in identity formation and the political aspects of language planning. An important aspect discussed is educational equity in the context of migration. The book debates educational inequalities and underscores the necessity of language-supportive measures for migrant children. Finally, it examines the challenges and opportunities of linguistic integration in immigrant societies. Overall, the book offers a well-rounded and insightful introduction to migration linguistics, illustrated with numerous examples and case studies from various languages and cultures. It highlights the importance of multilingualism as an enrichment and opportunity for society, advocating for a sensitive and inclusive approach to linguistic diversity.