Jaine Beswick

The Portuguese diaspora in Jersey

Introduction

The portuguese diaspora in jersey. Explore the Portuguese diaspora in Jersey, examining migrations from Portugal & Madeira. Research delves into sociolinguistics, identity, and ethnolinguistic vitality of this community.

Abstract

This present paper concerns recent migrations from the Portuguese mainland and from the island of Madeira to the English and French speaking territory of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands. On-going research is being carried out with a group of students from the Jersey community and studying at the University of Southampton. Through a series of informal discussions and class participation exercises, a detailed evaluation of both behavioural and attitudinal evidence pertaining to these languages in context is carried out. Moreover, the students own observations about their home community?s sociolinguistic network and notions of identity afford a valuable insight into the hierarchical and attitudinal factors which determine the interpersonal communication strategies employed on a day-to-day basis. To this end, tentative conclusions are made regarding the ethnolinguistic vitality of the younger members of this particular community.

Review

This paper introduces a compelling and timely investigation into the Portuguese diaspora in Jersey, a unique sociolinguistic context often overlooked in broader migration studies. The abstract successfully highlights the focus on recent migrations from both mainland Portugal and Madeira, and commendably centers on the experiences of younger community members. The proposed methodology, leveraging the insights of students from the Jersey community studying at the University of Southampton, is particularly innovative. This insider perspective, gained through informal discussions and class participation, offers a potentially rich qualitative data source for exploring complex issues of sociolinguistic networks, identity, and the ethnolinguistic vitality of the younger generation. The study's potential to shed light on interpersonal communication strategies and the attitudinal factors shaping language use is a significant strength. While the approach is promising, the abstract raises several methodological questions that would need further clarification in a full paper. The description of "on-going research" and "tentative conclusions" suggests this might be an initial report, and authors should make this explicit. More detail is required on the composition and size of the "group of students" – are they all members of the Portuguese diaspora? How are their observations and participation exercises systematically documented, analyzed, and validated? It is crucial to outline how the researchers mitigate potential biases inherent in such an approach and how the "detailed evaluation" of behavioral and attitudinal evidence is concretely carried out. Furthermore, the abstract mentions "hierarchical and attitudinal factors"; a brief indication of what these might entail or how they are observed would enhance clarity. Despite these points, the research addresses a vital gap in our understanding of diasporic communities and language maintenance in lesser-studied locales. The insights gleaned from the younger generation regarding their community's sociolinguistic network and identity hold significant potential for contributing to theories of ethnolinguistic vitality. For this research to fully realize its promise, a more robust and transparent methodological framework detailing data collection, analysis, and participant recruitment would be essential. Should these elements be thoroughly addressed, this study could offer valuable contributions to sociolinguistics, migration studies, and the anthropology of European diasporas.

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