Relation between language competence and language use in Japanese immigrant communities in South America

Abstract

This research aims to analyse language competence and language usage patterns in two kinds of Japanese immigrant communities in South America, those originated by Japan's main island immigrants and those originated by Okinawan immigrants. Research carried out in four communities showed that there are two patterns concerning language maintenance and language shift process, maintenance of Japanese language and evolution towards monolingualism. We observed three main points concerning oral competence and reading competence among second generation speakers and 1.5 generation speakers. (1) Bilingualism among second generation speakers who can use both main island Japanese and the local language. In communities like Vila Carrao in Sao Paulo city, where the majority of second generation speakers has competence only in Portuguese language, Portuguese is used at home among speakers of the same generation. Correlation between language competence and language usage is observed. (2) Although 1.5 generation speakers have high Portuguese language competence, they also use Japanese in daily life, switching languages according to the hearer. An internal community language concerning code switching is observed in this case. (3) It was also observed a high subscription rate of Japanese newspapers reading among 1.5 generation speakers with reading proficiency in Japanese.