Linguistic identities and language ideologies in German heritage communities

Abstract This study investigates linguistic positioning in German heritage communities across Eastern Europe, Australia and Brazil. It analyzes how speakers define and position their language varieties relative to contemporary standard German. Using data from multiple corpora collected over 20 years, the research reveals that heritage speakers often categorize their varieties under the general term “German”, despite notable deviations from homeland Standard German. The study examines the impact of historical and sociopolitical contexts on language awareness and linguistic identity, highlighting adherence to linguistic purism ideologies that regard homeland German as “real” German. Findings emphasize the significance of mastering diverse registers within the German diasystem and its influence on language identity and preservation. This research contributes to heritage language studies by elucidating the complex dynamics between language awareness, identity, and ideology in multilingual contexts.