The Role of Literacy in Heritage Language Acquisition

The paper focuses on the role of literacy in Heritage Language Acquisition (HLA). Heritage bilinguals, who acquire their heritage language in the hoe environment, are usually schooled in the language of the local majority. Studies show that literacy development through schooling plays a crucial role in later language development for monolingual children. Therefore exposure to formal registers and written language is likely to facilitate language acquisition. The review discusses studies that demonstrate the positive effects of literacy on areas like vocabulary, morphosyntax, and overall linguistic skills in heritage speakers, and suggests literacy may be a key factor in heritage language development.