Language, networks, and identity among minority Francophones

Abstract

Acculturation is a process of cultural change resulting from two or more groups coming into contact (Berry, 1990). Research has shown that, among minority group members, there is a tendency to adopt outgroup attributes at the expense of ingroup cultural elements (Berry & Sam, 1997; Phinney, Lochner, & Murphey, 1990). Yet studies have also documented the occurrence of cultural revitalization and biculturalism (Benet-Martinez, Len, Lee, & Morris, 2002; LaFromboise, Coleman, & Gerton, 1993). While both phenomena have been studied, if and by what mechanism they occur within a group still remains to be understood. Thus, the purpose of this thesis was to investigate the factors contributing to cultural maintenance under adverse pressures from the outgroup among a minority Francophone population. The first study explored the relationship between intergroup contact, social support, linguistic confidence, identity, and adjustment through a mediational model. As predicted, the importance of contact, social support and language confidence for shaping experienced identity and adjustment was supported. Even though English confidence supported the adoption of the Anglophone identity (i.e., subtractive trends), there were also additive benefits resulting from Francophone involvement and social support for identity maintenance and well-being. In the second study, the components of social interactions and communication were further investigated to delve into the social processes affecting identity maintenance. The results indicated that social interactions through communication networks and social support with both the in- and outgroup was important for identity maintenance, adoption, and adjustment.