Routledge Face[t]s of First Language Loss

This book contributes to the understanding of first-language loss in both immigrant and indigenous communities in (at least) three ways. First, it provides insight into the process of language loss and the factors contributing to it. Second, it attempts to define, from an insider perspective, what it means to "lose" a language. Third, it analyzes the perceived consequences of first language loss in terms of social, academic, emotional, and economic factors--an approach previously lacking in research on language loss. Most studies of first language loss are impersonal, even when they tell emotional stories. This polyphonic book about language loss and imperfect learning of heritage languages tells the inside story. Easy to read and yet academic, it gives voice to five different storytellers who relate the histories of their first language loss and analyzes themes from 21 life-history case studies of adults who had lost their first languages while learning English. The stories in this book make a compelling argument that heritage languages should be preserved, that ESL should be about developing bilinguals not English monolinguals. Important reading for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in ESL and bilingual education, multicultural education, cultural studies, and sociology, this book will also interest qualitative researchers as an example of a unique form of both doing and writing research. Review "Kouritzin's volume is not only a timely contribution to the field of FLL research but also timely from the point of view of the phenomenon under study itself....The book is indeed...important reading for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in ESL and bilingual education, multicultural education, cultural studies, and sociology, and I would add sociolinguistics and applied linguistics....Kouritzin aims to produce an academic text that is written with the intent to delight as well as to inform...and is by and large successful in this endeavor."—The International Journal of Bilingualism understanding of language to the study "The book is absolutely unique in terms of its goal and its methodology. In fact I cannot think of any other work that shares even one of these two elements with this book. The book is easy to read, yet highly academic."—Applied Linguistics "This book is a fascinating read -- I read it in one sitting. The book is indeed, as the blurb suggests, 'important reading for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in ESL and bilingual education, multicultural education, cultural studies, and sociology,'...sociolinguistics and applied linguistics."—Linguist List "Although most studies of language acquisition and loss are largely academic and deal with impersonal statistical subjects, this book provides a refreshing contrast....This is a highly readable book, containing detailed life-history case studies, and one that describes what it means to lose a language in terms of participation in the social, educational, and economic systems of both current and previous speech communities relevant to individuals at the time of interview....will serve as an important reading for researchers into language loss, bilingual education, multicultural education, and sociology, since it is full of insight into an area of ESL that should not be neglected. The unique form of research and gathering qualitative data that Kouritizin has undertaken will interest anyone engaged in similar work.—TESL-EJ "This original book is a highly readable treatment of language loss in both immigrant and indigenous communities. Two aspects distinguish this book from other volumes on language loss. To begin with, the author pioneers a new methodological approach to the study of language loss, an approach that combines qualitative data analysis with narrative analysis and life history. This innovative approach also leads to a unique write-up style: to preserve the voices of individual participan