Immigrant Experiences of Learning Icelandic and Connecting with the Speaking Community

Abstract

The Icelandic language has a central role in defining Icelandic nationality. Given its importance in defining Icelandic nationality and as a precondition for citizenship, the article studies what learning the Icelandic language means for the growing numbers of immigrants who have arrived in Iceland in recent years. This ethnographic study presents immigrants' perspectives on learning the language to be able to participate at work as well as gain access to the language community and Icelandic society in order to examine theory-based questions regarding processes of inclusion, exclusion and integration. Our study shows that although language is promoted as an important aspect in inclusion into Icelandic society, many of our participants who have attended classes but work mostly with other immigrants experience the language requirements instead as a boundary marker in terms of participation and belonging in Icelandic society.

Polish Immigrants in the Social and Cultural Landscape of Reykjavik

“…an important obstacle to integration with the Icelandic society is the Icelandic language, which immigrants are often unwilling to learn, and even those who would be willing to learn are discouraged by working long hours before they can engage in study (Skaptadóttir, Innes 2017;Wojtyńska, Skaptadóttir 2019). as is known, language is an element of inclusion or exclusion to the host society.…”

Epistemic Violence Toward Immigrant Women in Iceland: Silencing, Smothering, and Linguistic Deficit

“…Rorty (1993) has argued that misrecognition is likely to occur when we do not see others as being like ourselves. They are somehow outside of the dominant cultural This is what the woman's story reveals -Icelandic, the dominant language and culture, becomes a marker or a signifier of being recognized, or not, as a knowledgeable and trustworthy subject (Butler 2020;Skaptadóttir & Innes 2017). The conflicting subject positions the narrator herself takes in her struggle to achieve recognition are noteworthy.…”