Plurilingual competency and identity of heritage language speakers in Japan

• Project/Area Number: 23K02189
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09020:Sociology of education-related
• Research Institution: Kanda University of International Studies
• Principal Investigator: 杉田 めぐみ 神田外語大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (70366938)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): PARK Siwon 神田外語大学, グローバル・リベラルアーツ学部, 教授 (00458639)
• Project Period (FY): 2023-04-01 – 2026-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: identity / plurilingual competency / heritage language / diversity / second generation

Outline of Research at the Start

This research will explore ways in which people of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds can coexist and Japan can further develop as a society of mutual respect.

By looking closely at the plurilingual competency and identity of the second generation immigrants who were born and raised in Japan, this research will help understand the sociolinguistic and sociocultural contexts in which they are situated. It will also enable us to seek ways to appreciate their linguistic and cultural resources, which in turn will lead to promoting plurilingualism and pluriculturalism in Japan.