The missing link: the impact of low biliteracy skills on bilingual linguistic identity

Studies examining biliteracy have concentrated predominantly on the positive contributions biliteracy makes in maintaining the first language. However, very few studies have examined how 'not' achieving a high level of literacy in the community language (CL) affects the identity of adult, second generation immigrant Canadians. This study involved individuals from three different language groups including Cantonese, Polish and Urdu and examined whether their literacy abilities affect their perceptions of being bilingual. Through interviews and focus groups, insight was generated into these individuals' definitions and perceptions of ethnicity, language and identity. The findings reveal that social, political and educational factors all play a role in the amount of CL literacy an individual has been exposed to. The majority of participants stated that a lack of biliteracy skills neither makes them feel less bilingual nor weakens strong ties to aspects of their ethnic identity.