Patrick Wolf-Farré. Language and self-concept of the German-Chileans
Language and self-concept of the German-Chileans
Linguistic biographies in a former “language island”
Patrick Wolf-Farré
German Department
Hybrid identities and language contact are common phenomena in the Americas, especially since the great waves of migration from the Old World took place in the 19th century. German immigrants in the US and Canada have mostly blended in and do not form ethnic colonies or “language islands” anymore. In some parts of Latin America however, the assimilation does not take place as quickly. The German-Chileans are such a case of a community in between two cultures and two languages. What are the main factors preventing assimilation? To what extent is German still being spoken? And how can a German-Chilean be defined?
In this talk, I want to give an overview over the history of German immigration to Chile and the current situation, before presenting some results of my dissertational research. The presentation is open to anybody interested in the subject.
