Language Use and Its Significance for a Young Individual with Foreign Roots Growing Up in Multilingual Environment in Japan : The Narrative of a Young Individual Who Migrated to Japan in Childhood

ニホン　ニ　オケル　フクスウ　ゲンゴ　カンキョウ　デ　ソダツ　ガイコクルーツ　ノ　ワカモノ　ノ　ゲンゴ　シヨウ　ト　ソノ　イミヅケ　ヨウショウキ　ニ　ライニチ　シタ　ワカモノ　ノ　カタリ　カラ

Wu, Jingyan

The Japanese Society for Mother Tongue, Heritage Language, and Bilingual Education

複数言語使用

外国ルーツの若者

言語使用の変化

言語の意味づけ

This study investigates the actual use and perceived significance of multiple languages using data from an interview with a young individual who migrated from Brazil to Japan during childhood. The findings indicate that the respondent considers Japanese indispensable as the foundation of daily life and highly values English as a skill for expanding career opportunities and broadening one’s horizons. In contrast, although Portuguese is primarily used at home, it is not actively maintained due to criticism on pronunciation and word choice from native speakers of Portuguese, which influences the linguistic identity and engagement of the interviewee with the language. Reevaluating the prevailing notion that one must speak similar to a native and recognizing the importance of effectively using multiple languages—even without attaining native-level fluency—are key to fostering confidence and motivation in children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. As the foreign population in Japan continues to grow, developing a positive perception of their multilingual abilities and recognizing them as valuable assets that contribute to personal and social development are crucial aspects for individuals with foreign roots.