Volume: 26  Number: 6  Page: 533–550

The Effects of Self-confidence in Bilingual Abilities on Language Use: Perspectives on Pasifika Language Use in South Auckland

Donna Starks Department of Applied Language Studies & Linguistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

This paper considers speakers' differing degrees of self-confidence in their bilingual abilities and their effects on reported language use and observed patterns of language choice. One hundred and twenty individuals fromNewZealand's four largest Pasifika communities – Samoan, Cook Islands, Tongan and Niuean – reported on their selfconfidence in both their community language (CL) and English, and on the basis of these responses, five speaker types are distinguished. Analysis of their demographic profiles reveals differences with respect to first language, language of the childhood home and language of primary education. First language, for example, is an important variable for distinguishing those with limited self-confidence in their CL. Primary education singles out those who view themselves as English dominant (EDs), while differing CL use at home distinguishes CL dominant bilinguals (CDs), dual high proficiency speakers (DHPs) and English dominants (EDs). The findings show how analyses based on speakers' self-confidence in bilingual abilities may provide a community-friendly tool for describing patterns of language use and explaining the effects of social variables on language proficiency.

Keywords: bilingualism, language maintenance, Pasifika communities, interview speech

© 2005 D. Starks

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