Proceedings of The 6th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Year: 2023
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/6th.shconf.2023.06.120
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The influence of cultural and language knowledge on positive attitudes among Second-generation Albanian Diaspora
Arjeta VESHI PhD, Dr. Morena BRAÇAJ
ABSTRACT:
Purpose: Our study aimed to address the following questions: 1) the appropriateness of studying second-generation diaspora migrants in Italy and their connection to the motherland; 2) the influence and impact of cultural identity and language knowledge on the positive attitudes of Albanian second-generation diaspora in Italy toward their motherland.
Methods: The method implied for the present paper is explorative and comparative based on the responses of 300 second-generation migrant students who attend language and cultural courses in Italy. Data collection was conducted through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to all the cultural Albanian centers in Italy. The JASP 7 and MAXQDA software collected the data results for the questionnaire.
Results: The t-test for examining how factors like age, gender, and knowledge of Albanian language relate to positive attitudes towards Albanian culture confirmed that being a 14-year-old migrant, (M = 2.005; r =.04; p < .05), female (M = 1.65; r =.058; p <.05), having studied Albanian for more than 3 years (M = 2.02; r =.0062; p < .05), discussing the home country (M = 1.95; r =.0170; p <.05) have a stronger influence on displaying favorable attitudes. Regression analysis found that only the variables of age, gender, and attending language classes were statistically significant and accounted for 92% of the variability in overall attitudes towards the country of origin. With a total coefficient (β=.701; t=3.00, p<.001) they produced an R = 6.0256 and the determining factor R2 = 1.309, indicating the significance of the second hypothesis raised in the study.
Conclusions: Positive attitudes toward knowledge of Albanian culture and heritage showed higher effects on the construct of second-generation migrants in Italy. Their emotional and cognitive disposition increased significantly toward cultural heritage and acknowledgment, partly in line with the National Strategy for the Development of the Diaspora. A holistic approach can help develop strategies for addressing cultural and language policies’ impact on this group.
keywords: Albania, diaspora, second-generation emigrants, language, culture