Immigrant ethnic/linguistic identity: Children of immigrants of Chinese and Indian origin.

摘要

This study aims on improving the understanding about the relationship between parental influence, nativity, strength of social network and ethnic identity of children of immigrants. The study analyzes the relationship between the same predictors and foreign language proficiency among children of immigrants. Language proficiency can be used as an indicator of assimilation to the host society as it also plays a defining role in the development of ethnic identity of the child. Data collected for the Children of Immigrant Longitudinal Study (CILS) is used to analyze by selecting a sample of children of immigrants of Chinese and Indian origin, identified from the pool of respondents used in the CILS study. OLS regression and Logistic regression models are used to examine the presence and strength of relationship between the variables. Findings reveal insignificant relationship between the language proficiency and the factors, probably due to small sample sizes available on homogenized minority communities leading to lack of significance of models. I conclude by emphasizing the need for research on homogenized minorities in an effort to possibly better understand the disparities that exist in the process of adaptation of the immigrant second generation in to American society.