Influences of parental age of migration and education on children's bilingual vocabulary : The case of immigrant parents from Turkey

Abstract

The influences of parental age of migration and education on children’s bilingual vocabulary were studied in 190 five- and 12-year-old Norwegian-born children to immigrant parents from Turkey. First, associations between parental age of migration and education, and possible mediators (language use, language attitudes, literacy activities and the child’s preschool-attendance) were investigated. Second, regression analysis was conducted to investigate whether children’s bilingual vocabulary were predicted by parental education and age of migration. Third, regression analysis was used to investigate possible mediator effects.

On average, parents had low educational attainment, independent of age of migration. Most couples were based on marriage migration, in which one partner migrated after the age of 18. Language use, literacy activities and the child’s preschool-attendance varied across parental educational level and age of migration. 43% of the five-year-olds’ Norwegian vocabulary was predicted by parental age of migration and education. These effects were partly mediated by mother’s language use, number of children’s books and the child’s preschool-attendance. The five-year-olds’ Turkish vocabulary was not predicted by parental age of migration or education. 20% of the 12-year-olds’ Norwegian vocabulary was predicted by parental education and age of migration, effects partly mediated by the child’s preschool-attendance. 18% of the 12-year-olds’ Turkish vocabulary scores were predicted by parental education and age of migration, with no mediation effect. The findings are discussed in light of sociocultural and conflict-theoretical concepts, and methodological reflections are thoroughly presented.