Greek Americans of Metropolitan Chicago: A pilot study on language maintenance and ethnic identity

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of maintenance of the Greek language by different generations of Greek American families in the Chicago area and the degree to which their loyalty to this language is connected to their ethnic identity. It was a qualitative study set in the theoretical framework of phenomenology based primarily on in-depth interviews. This cross-generational study examined the experience of four Greek American families with reference to their maintenance of and loyalty to the Greek language, and how this is tied to their identity as Greeks. The study began with data collection using questionnaires distributed to members of the Greek American community throughout Metropolitan Chicago. The self-administered questionnaire consisted most1y of closed-ended questions related to birthplace, language use and proficiency (of Greek and English), language learning experience, involvement in the Greek American community, membership in the Greek Orthodox Church, and travel to Greece. Key informants were identified and asked to further participate by being interviewed along with at least one other family member of a different generation. In addition to answering the survey questions, these informants were asked to describe their experience with the Greek language, including who or what influenced them to learn Greek, how important it is for them to know the language, and in which situations they found it most valuable. The findings showed that all of these Greek-speaking key informants had regular contact with native speakers. The first generation informants all had at least one parent from Greece, and all of the second or third generation informants lived with or near an immigrant grandparent from Greece. All of these informants also have or had close ties to the Greek American community and Greek Orthodox Church in the United States, and all have traveled to or are planning to travel to Greece. Though most of the key informants stated that it is not necessary for others of Greek heritage to speak the language in order to be considered Greek, they themselves all speak the language to some degree and consider themselves to be very Greek or more Greek than others