About HLAW2

In the last two decades, Heritage Languages have received growing attention, both in the field of bilingualism studies and in research concerned with the preservation and revitalization of endangered languages. They have been under the scrutiny of linguists, especially of those working on bilingual language acquisition and on sociolinguistics, as well as language policy makers, language activists, and researchers in education. For linguists interested in bilingualism, heritage speakers represent not only a large part of the bilingual population, but also a case in which it is possible to study the effects of different amounts of exposure and of crosslinguistic influence on a population in which birth is maintained as the age of onset for the heritage language. From the viewpoint of sociolinguistics, heritage languages raise several questions, including which conditions determine linguistic preservation or attrition, or the significance of the fact that heritage speakers are often exposed to only a non-standard variety of the heritage language. Finally, in the area of studies on endangered languages, an important focus has been placed on strategies for the revitalization of heritage languages as a means to preserve linguistic diversity.

The recognition of the specificities of heritage speakers and heritage languages in multilingual societies is what justifies the relevance of the topic for policy makers and for researchers interested in language education and language policies.

The main goal of this conference is to bring together various research perspectives on heritage languages in order to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of language development and education in immigrant and minority language communities around the world.

Organizing Committee

  • Luiz Amaral (UMass Amherst)
  • Meghan Armstrong (UMass Amherst)
  • Hugo Cardoso (ULisbon)
  • Cristina Flores (UMinho)
  • Patricia Gubitosi (UMass Amherst)
  • Ana Lúcia Santos (ULisbon)
  • Gláucia Silva (UMass Dartmouth)
  • Patrick Thane (UMass Amherst)