Language Biographies in Wartime: the Ukrainian Diaspora of New England

This mixed-methods study investigates linguistic biographies to better understand speakers’ language attitudes and their evolving language practices in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Focusing on Ukrainian communities in New England, USA, the study highlights the vitality and transformation of Ukrainian as a Heritage Language in a multilingual diaspora. Through survey data and thematic content analysis of semi- structured interviews, the research emphasizes how individual language trajectories reveal complex stances on habitual language use and shifts in language practice. These biographies illuminate speakers’ agency in navigating linguistic choices that align with evolving perceptions of Ukrainian identity. The paper integrates influential approaches from heritage language studies (Kupisch & Rothman, 2018), multilingual identity (Little, 2023), language socialization (Lynch, 2023), and situational analysis (Clarke et al., 2022) to interpret the data. It underscores the interplay between personal language histories, diverse practices, and dynamic attitudes, contributing to broader understandings of language socialization in diasporic contexts.