International Journal of Bilingual
Education and Bilingualism
Editor: Colin Baker, University of Wales, Bangor
Review Editor: Aneta Pavlenko, Temple University, Philadelpia
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Volume: 4 Number: 6 Page: 383–402
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Being Bilingual: Perspectives of Third Generation Asian Children on Language, Culture and Identity
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Jean Mills
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This paper concerns a study of the views of their bilingualism of a group of Asian children and young people. Within the context of a semi-structured interview, they reflected on the role of their languages
in their lives. They noted, in general, their lack of proficiency in their Asian languages and their parents' (in particular, their mothers') efforts to support those languages. Nevertheless, these languages
were important to these children, especially for maintaining the bond with their families and communities. Consequently, these languages were crucial for maintaining the children's sense of identity as
being both British and Pakistani. The children thus experienced multiple identities to which their languages contributed, and which, on the whole, they accepted with equanimity.
© Multilingual Matters 2002
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