Browsing by Author "Gofurova, Shakhnoza"

This cross-sectional study explores language choice and acculturation processes among Uzbek immigrants in Finland and also focuses on the role of English proficiency in integration. Language choice is a fundamental aspect of sociolinguistics, which explores how individuals use language in various social contexts. Acculturation theory suggests that when individuals from one cultural group come into contact with another, they may experience changes in cultural behaviors, attitudes, and values. Language choice plays a crucial role in this process, as it reflects both individual preferences and societal pressures to assimilate or maintain one’s cultural identity. Data from 33 immigrants were collected through an online questionnaire via the E-Lomake software. Additionally, short interviews were conducted with 5 immigrants to explore experiences of discrimination in both host and home countries. The data were analyzed using a mixed-method approach, employing quantitative analysis for Likert-scale questions and qualitative analysis for the comments section and interviews. The results show that short-time male immigrants tend to use English in their daily interactions with locals, whereas women prefer Finnish. Although Finnish was the main language of communication with the host society among long-term immigrants, it did not become the language of the family. Moreover, the importance of English was the highest among the respondents, surpassing the importance of their mother tongue, Finnish, and other languages. It is noteworthy that immigrants considered Russian to be more useful than Swedish in Finland. Furthermore, despite their positive attitudes towards their mother tongue and willingness to keep it as the main language for their children, immigrants were generally well integrated into Finnish society, as evidenced by the overall high scores on the host national identity. However, those who were using Finnish in their daily lives and had at least moderate proficiency in this language showed a higher sense of belonging and host national identity compared to those who lacked the proficiency at all. Additionally, the analysis revealed a factor that hinders the integration process even more than language choice or length of residence - the experience of discrimination in the host country. Given that discrimination among immigrants was mostly observed in the work-related context, this study suggests that authorities should pay more attention to policies of inclusion, diversity, and fair recruitment processes. Furthermore, as English language skills are not seen as a barrier to immigrants’ integration but rather as a useful tool for relocating to Finland and facilitating the early stages of integration, it is important to create more English-speaking workplaces to attract highly educated immigrants to the country.