Heritage Language

Definition
The term heritage language is used to identify any languages other than the dominant language(s) in a given social context Other researchers defined the term heritage language as the language associated with one's cultural background and it may or may not be spoken in the home Van Deusen-Scholl (2003) states that the term heritage language cannot be identified in a static, definitive sense; rather, it is more a metaphor in relation to the structuring of attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions that enable or constrain linguistic practices.

There have been critical views on the use of the term heritage language. Despite the term heritage language, heritage language speaker, and heritage language learner are gaining currency, the concept remains ill defined and is sensitive to a variety of interpretations within a social, political, regional, and national contexts

Using the label heritage itself has been challenged by many and has been regarded as extremely negative -even offensive- by some and counterproductive by others. Baker and Jones state that the term heritage language points more to the past and less to the future, to traditions rather to the contemporary so that the danger is that the term becomes associated with ancient cultures, past traditions and more "primitive times" and so may fail to give the impression of a modern language that is of value in a technological society

Alternative terms for heritage language proposed by researchers and used or preferred in different countries and contexts are: Though some of these terms are equally problematic as heritage language. For example, native language is also problematic because we cannot assume that the language does not necessarily students' native language. Those students may have a limited knowledge of the language or simply may not speak it at all. Ancestral language also conveys a negative connotation that it belongs to the distant past or a previous generation which does not have a present or future affiliation.
 * native language
 * minority language
 * ancestral language
 * immigrant minority language
 * allochthonous language
 * home language
 * language of origin
 * community language

Heritage Language Learners
Valdés provided three main criteria to identify heritage language learners. According to the proposal, heritage language learners are individuals who:


 * are raised in homes where a non-English language is spoken
 * speak or merely understand the heritage language
 * are to some degree bilingual in English and the heritage language

We have to keep in mind that heritage language learners are not a monolithic group so that we cannot assume or overgeneralize their proficiency. Rather, degree of heritage language fluency, proficiency, cultural background, connection or knowledge are widely varied among students. For example, heritage language learners include students of fluent native speakers to nonspeakers who may be generations removed but who may feel culturally connected to a language (Van Deusen-Scholl, 2003).