Factors affecting language maintenance in the Singapore Punjabi community

It has been asserted that family language policy, or FLP, is the single most important factor affecting minority language maintenance, and moreover that this factor is resistant to outside influence. While there is little data available on language use within minority communities in Singapore, there is reason to believe that other significant factors besides FLP have affected language maintenance in the case of these languages. This study focuses on one of Singapore’s smallest ethnic minority groups, namely the Singaporean Punjabi community, and attempts to address the aforementioned premise through an exploration of the current state of the Punjabi language here, as well as factors affecting this. Through analysis of a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, several key factors affecting language maintenance in this community were identified in addition to FLP. The most prominent factors affecting language maintenance were found to be religious affiliations, language in education policies, and proximity to other speakers. Factors such as intermarriage and language attitudes also played a role, influencing families’ language choices and practices. The research presented suggests that FLP is neither immutable, nor the single most important factor affecting language maintenance where this particular community is concerned.Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Multilingual Studie