Do multicultural policies work? Language maintenance and acculturation in two vintages of the Hungarian diaspora in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The research contrasts two vintages of Hungarian migrants in terms of their acculturation strategies, attitudes to the host and source cultures, ethnic-identity and language maintenance and shift patterns. The conclusions drawn have implications for the theoretical framework of language maintenance and shift as well as additive versus subtractive bilingualism. Period of arrival is singled out as a main factor in influencing patterns of social adjustment as well as language maintenance and shift. The paper argues that the wider social and policy context plays a significant role in the language development of ethnolinguistic minority communities. It provides some evidence that the Anglo-Saxon host society in Australia is seen as favourable for minority language maintenance and this potentially leads to increased societal bilingualism.