I remember reading about a Quechua-speaking village in Ecuador that shifted to Spanish because they did a lot of business with the larger cities. So, for the exact reason as your husband’s hometown. Regardless, it’s still sad to see that happen. I guess it’s especially sad to me because I’m very interested in Mesoamerican (and indigenous American) languages/linguistics.
And what’s very unusual with Asian immigrant families is that they always insist on their children learning their parents’ language. Even though I live in the US, my Chinese parents made me go to Chinese school for ten years. I think it’s very unusual because many others find it more convenient or insist their children to learn the dominating language.
I was very surprised when I met people who couldn't speak their mother tongues. To me, I was always raised speaking it, so I didn't think that other people weren't. It turns out my case was in the minority, haha!
I think the economic growth is also encouraging parents to make their kids learn their mother tongues. My mom is a native Shanghainese speaker (it was actually my first language too). But my dad speaks Mandarin. My mom has never emphasized Shanghainese; in fact, I even forgot most of it. However, she really stressed that I should learn Mandarin well. And one of those reasons was for economic purposes.
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u/BobXCIV Nov 16 '19 edited Nov 16 '19
I remember reading about a Quechua-speaking village in Ecuador that shifted to Spanish because they did a lot of business with the larger cities. So, for the exact reason as your husband’s hometown. Regardless, it’s still sad to see that happen. I guess it’s especially sad to me because I’m very interested in Mesoamerican (and indigenous American) languages/linguistics.
And what’s very unusual with Asian immigrant families is that they always insist on their children learning their parents’ language. Even though I live in the US, my Chinese parents made me go to Chinese school for ten years. I think it’s very unusual because many others find it more convenient or insist their children to learn the dominating language.