Factors for Konkani Heritage Language Transmission in the Goan Diaspora of the United States

This article reports the findings of an investigation into the factors that contribute to successful transmission versus unsuccessful transmission of Konkani as a heritage language ( HL ) from first generation Goan-American parents to their second-generation children. Goa is the smallest state in India and the only state for which Konkani is an official language. Goa was also a Portuguese colony for roughly 400 years, resulting in a complex linguistic history. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with six Goan-American parents indicates that strong connections between language and culture, the use of Konkani in the home domain, and Hindu religious affiliation were the most significant factors in successful Konkani transmission. Factors stemming from the colonial history of Goa, such as increased comfort with English, internalized Eurocentricity, and high rates of migration, emerged as group level factors that decreased the likelihood of transmission.