Overlapping Identities: The Case of Japanese Immigrants in Cali, Colombia
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: This interdisciplinary study examines the complex and multilayered relationship that exists between language and identity among Japanese and Japanese-Colombian immigrants in Cali, Colombia. A combination of semi-structured interviews and survey instruments were used to gather data on the social, linguistic, and cultural characteristics of thirty one informants. Overall results indicate that indeterminacy and contradiction, in regards to the participants ’ views on language (use & value) and cultural involvement, are constant features that take part in their everyday lives revealing conflicting and overlapping identities. Moreover, our findings suggest that the Japanese community in Cali is currently in an advanced process of acculturation, shifting towards mainstream Colombian monoculturalism as well as Spanish monolingualism.
Institution: University of Florida
Language: English
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1142170129