Linguistic Resilience: A Sociolinguistic Study of Language Maintenance and Identity Negotiation in a Marginalized Urban Community
Downloads
Marginalized urban communities face linguistic pressures threatening their heritage languages. This study examines language preservation in environments where language is a key site of identity struggle. This sociolinguistic research investigates the specific strategies of language maintenance and identity negotiation utilized by a marginalized urban community, aiming to identify key factors enabling linguistic resilience against dominant language encroachment. A qualitative ethnographic approach was employed, using participant observation and in-depth sociolinguistic interviews (n=45). The analysis focused on language choice across social domains and the metalinguistic narratives speakers used to articulate identity. Findings indicate resilience is achieved through “covert maintenance,” reinforcing the heritage language in private domains as resistance. Identity negotiation is fluid, with strategic code-switching used to signal affiliation. Public language use showed assimilation, but private use demonstrated strong vitality. Linguistic resilience in this community is a conscious act of social agency and identity negotiation, not passive retention. The community preserves its language through strategic domain management, proving vitality is inextricably linked to identity.
Ahmed, A., & Morgan, B. (2025). Cultivating the nexus of research and practice in language teacher education: A duoethnographic exploration. System, 131, 103642. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103642
Ahtoy, P. (2024). Breaking barriers: Equipping mental health professionals to address intersectional issues in care through the case study of a young non-white woman’s trajectory as French language instructor and representative. Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 32, 100987. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2024.100987
Ai, Q., Mao, Y., & Huang, H. (2025). Self-mourning in the digital age: Insights from Douban’s Online Graveyard in Chinese. Computers in Human Behavior, 168, 108666. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108666
Al-khresheh, M. H. (2024). The role of presentation-based activities in enhancing speaking proficiency among Saudi EFL students: A quasi-experimental study. Acta Psychologica, 243, 104159. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104159
Alam, M. R., Islam, M. S., Ansarey, D., Rana, M. M., Milon, M. R. K., Abdul Halim, H., Jahan, S., & Rashid, A. (2024). Unveiling the professional identity construction of in-service university English language teachers: Evidence from Bangladesh. Ampersand, 12, 100178. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2024.100178
Bakagianni, J., Pouli, K., Gavriilidou, M., & Pavlopoulos, J. (2025). A systematic survey of natural language processing for the Greek language. Patterns, 101313. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2025.101313
Barruga, B. M. (2025). Between market forces and national policy: Language commodification and linguistic entrepreneurship in Myanmar. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 101954. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101954
Bottiani, J. H., Franco, M. P., Henderson Smith, L., Aguayo, D., Kaihoi, C. A., & Debnam, K. J. (2025). CARES360: A framework for teacher capacity-building in culturally sustaining practices. Journal of School Psychology, 111, 101471. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101471
Capstick, T., & Borlongan, A. M. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2025). Language and Migration. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00738-9
Chang, D. H., Chen, Q., & Lin, A. M. Y. (2025). Translingual approach in assessing academic writing for emerging multilingual writers in EMI higher education. Linguistics and Education, 87, 101403. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2025.101403
Chen, X., & Su, Y. (2025). Modesty differs between historical and modern Chinese: A computational analysis of modesty metalinguistics. Language Sciences, 110, 101729. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langsci.2025.101729
Cui, X., & Gardiner, I. A. (2025). Investigating students’ academic language-related challenges and their interplay with English proficiency and self-efficacy on EMI success in Transnational Education (TNE) programs in China. English for Specific Purposes, 78, 53–69. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2024.12.002
Delmas, M., Kruk, J., Willoughby, L., & Angouri, J. (2025). Doing multilingualism through transnational linguistic landscaping: The MultiDiv experience. Linguistics and Education, 86, 101384. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2025.101384
Díaz-Vera, J. E. (2025). The situatedness of aesthetic emotions: a review of the literature and a proposal for its study in variationist linguistics. Language Sciences, 111, 101744. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langsci.2025.101744
Dong, J., & Han, Y. (2024). Examining Chinese teachers’ emotional vulnerability of teaching international students in an English medium instruction programme. System, 122, 103297. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2024.103297
Erdocia, I. (2025). Language and trust: Struggles for recognition of migrant people in the political realm. Language & Communication, 101, 46–57. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2025.02.001
Galitsky, B. (2025). Chapter 7 - Leveraging medical discourse to answer complex questions (B. B. T.-H. A. of N.-S. A. I. Galitsky (Ed.); pp. 221–281). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-30046-2.00007-7
Gao, Z., Li, X., & Liao, H. (2024). Teacher support and its impact on ESL student engagement in blended learning: The mediating effects of L2 grit and intended effort. Acta Psychologica, 248, 104428. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104428
Glasson, N., & Kitney, A. (2025). Making things happen: A study of grammatical metaphors in L2 writing scripts. Assessing Writing, 65, 100939. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2025.100939
Goria, E., & Della Putta, P. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2025). Bilingual. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00543-3
Gu, M. M., Jiang, G. L., & Chiu, M. M. (2024). Translanguaging, motivation, learning, and intercultural citizenship among EMI students: A structural equation modelling analysis. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 100, 101983. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101983
Guo, J. (2025). From “Otherness” to “Intercultural Mutualism”: A study on media discourse strategies and intercultural communication of Rose on Douyin. Discourse, Context & Media, 68, 100947. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2025.100947
Hall, S. M., Ballard, M., Smith, R. P., Mitchell, H., Packard, S., Major, S., Kennerley, M., & Walker, B. (2025). Deaf patient perspectives of healthcare provider cultural competency: Strategies for improvement across affective, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 8, 100630. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2025.100630
Heydarnejad, T. (2025). Unmasking the Impacts of Self-Evaluation in AI-Supported Writing Instruction on EFL Learners’ Emotion Regulation, Self-Competence, Motivation, and Writing Achievement. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 100494. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100494
Hoang, Q., & Van, K. N. (2025). Multilingual communication characteristics of ethnic minorities in An Giang province, Mekong Delta Vietnam. Ampersand, 14, 100220. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2025.100220
Huang, Y., Gao, Y., & Ren, C. (2025). A survey of data augmentation in named entity recognition. Neurocomputing, 651, 130856. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2025.130856
Hudson, M., Uchiyama, J., Zancan, C., Šukelj, K., Bernabé, R. C., Bjørn, R. G., Bausch, I. R., & Fernández, I. M. M. (2025). Maritime networks as a vector for early farming/language dispersals: A comparative review. Quaternary Environments and Humans, 3(2), 100066. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qeh.2025.100066
Ineli-Ciger, M., & Tan, N. F. (2025). Algorithms for group recognition? Ensuring lawful and rights-based use of new technologies in group refugee recognition. Computer Law & Security Review, 59, 106222. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2025.106222
Iordanou, K., Fotiou, C., Manoli, A., & Zembylas, M. (2025). Examining myside bias on a controversial historical event after engagement in dialogic argumentation: Insights from a think aloud study. Learning and Instruction, 100, 102209. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2025.102209
Lane, P. (2025). Voicing and staging Indigenous resilience: Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen’s performance of the Sámi yoik Máze. Language & Communication, 105, 172–180. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2025.09.009
Lillis, T. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2024). The Language of Social Work. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00133-2
Lu, X., & Habil, H. (2025). Worlds beyond, self within: A systematic review of the effects of study abroad programs for teachers on their intercultural communication competence. International Journal of Educational Research, 131, 102610. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2025.102610
Maddamsetti, J., & Hinton, K. (2025). Navigating the emotional stickiness of belonging through scaling: A black American woman teacher’s experiences in the context of teaching English abroad in Korea. Linguistics and Education, 86, 101402. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2025.101402
Mao, R., Ge, M., Han, S., Li, W., He, K., Zhu, L., & Cambria, E. (2025). A survey on pragmatic processing techniques. Information Fusion, 114, 102712. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inffus.2024.102712
Mawalim, C. O., Leong, C. W., Sivan, G., Huang, H.-H., & Okada, S. (2025). Beyond accuracy: Multimodal modeling of structured speaking skill indices in young adolescents. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 8, 100386. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100386
Munezane, Y. (2025). Conceptualizing intercultural communicative competence in higher education in the Japanese context: Insights from language learners, practitioners, and public arena. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101205. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101205
Nam, B. H., Bai, Q., English, A. S., & Kulich, S. J. (2025). Meta-autoethnography as a co-constructive descriptive and narrative methodology: Post-pandemic responses to new research agendas in intercultural relations. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 105, 102144. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102144
Ng, D. T. K., Du, C., Cheung, K. K. C., & McIntyre, N. (2025). The use and impact of digital interventions on mental health and wellbeing of forced migrants: A systematic review of empirical studies. Computers in Human Behavior, 172, 108755. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108755
Peng, L., Akhter, S., & Hashemifardnia, A. (2025). Podcast-integrated speaking instruction: Enhancing informal digital learning of English, academic engagement, and speaking skills. Acta Psychologica, 258, 105158. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105158
Perrigo, J. L., Stanley, L., Mixson, L. S., Espinosa, L., Morales, J., Beck, C., & Halfon, N. (2024). Examining holistic developmental strengths and needs of multilingual kindergartners using the Early Development Instrument. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 6, 100315. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2023.100315
Quah, S. R. B. T.-I. E. of P. H. (Third E. (Ed.). (2025). Index (pp. 475–559). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.09946-4
Safar, J., & Reed, L. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2025). Language Evolution and Sign Languages. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00929-7
Sevinç, Y., & Dewaele, J.-M. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2025). Multilingualism, Emotional Well-Being, and Vulnerability in Contexts of Migration and Displacement. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00846-2
Shah, W. A., Jatoi, Q., & Shah, U. R. (2025). De-centering the anthropocentric worldview in language textbooks: A posthumanist call for discursive reparations for sustainable ELT. Linguistics and Education, 86, 101397. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2025.101397
Spotti, M. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2025). Language Variation. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00415-4
Stracke, E., Chen, H., & Macalister, J. B. T.-R. M. in S. S. (2025). Applied Linguistics in Australasia and the Pacific. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95504-1.00367-7
Tamim, D. T., & Bari, D. F. (2025). Tracing the footprints of returning international students in Pakistani context: A capability approach analysis. International Journal of Educational Research, 131, 102593. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2025.102593
Tavares, V. (2025). A stranger in the room? Race, space, and legitimacy in the language classroom. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 9, 100523. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2025.100523
Wang, Q., & Hu, G. (2024). Surprise as a knowledge emotion in research articles: Variation across disciplines, genders, geo-academic locations and time. Language & Communication, 99, 194–211. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2024.10.007
Wang, Y. (Yoka), Wang, W., & Fang, F. (2025). Developing Chinese English language teachers’ research literacy: A multi-case study of an MA TESOL programme at a British university. System, 133, 103759. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103759
Wu, X., & Qin, Y. (2025). On the relationship between music students’ negative emotions, artificial intelligence readiness, and their engagement. Acta Psychologica, 253, 104760. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104760
Yang, L., Espique, F. P., & Ulla, M. B. (2025). Philippine Hybrid Hokkien (PHH): Its ecology and pedagogical usage among Filipino Chinese communities. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 102144. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102144
Yin, J., Khan, R. U., Afzaal, M., Nawaz, R., Shanshan, X., & Jamal, A. (2024). A fuzzy bayesian quantitative risk assessment for language and communication induced accidents in maritime operations. Ocean & Coastal Management, 259, 107449. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107449
Zhang, Y. S. D., Larsen, D. J., Noels, K. A., & Hobbs, C. (2025). Fostering empathic connections between domestic students and international students in Canada via expressions of hope. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 108, 102235. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102235
Zhang, Y., & Wang, H. (2025). Local grammar, discourse acts, and disciplinarity: A case study of definition. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 74, 101485. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2025.101485
Copyright (c) 2025 Novi Ulfa Safitri, Sara Hussain, Marwati Marwati, Sitti Agustina
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
