Journal article abstract: Nunavik (arctic Quebec)

[Scott McGinnis]

With thanks to Joy Peyton of CAL for the tip....

International Journal of Bilingual Education & Bilingualism Volume 3 No
4, 2000

Patterns of Perceived Language Ability and Use in Arctic Quebec
Donald M. Taylor and M. Caron & L McAlpine, McGill University, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada

The present research focused on mothers of school children living in
small isolated communities in arctic Quebec (Nunavik). Patterns of
perceived language ability and use in three languages, Inuttitut,
English, and French, for both themselves and their children were
examined. The pattern of perceived language ability was similar across
the three languages. Fluency was superior to literacy, understanding was
better than speaking, and reading scores were higher than those for
writing. Mothers judged themselves to be best in Inuttitut, second best
in English, and least fluent in French. A pattern of perceived
subtractive bilingualism emerged. Ability in the heritage language,
Inuttitut, was negatively correlated with ability in the mainstream
language, English. Additionally, as the mothers' ability in mainstream
languages increased, the perceived ability of their children in
Inuttitut decreased. Similar patterns of subtractive bilingualism
emerged when language use was examined. The results are discussed in
terms of the potential survival of the heritage language.