Multiculturalism and mother tongue maintenance – the case of the Hungarian diaspora in Queensland

Multicultural policies and language policies claim to provide a favourable environment for the maintenance of immigrant languages. However, the relationship between multiculturalism and multilingualism is complex and contested. Rates of language loss and shift in Australia show that the multilingual heritage is very vulnerable even within the context of a highly multicultural society. This paper examines the effect of multicultural policies on the linguistic and cultural adjustment of the Hungarian diaspora in Queensland. The research contrasts two vintages of Hungarian migrants in terms of their acculturation strategies, attitudes to the host and source cultures, ethnic identity and language maintenance and shift patterns. The conclusions drawn have implications for the theoretical framework of language maintenance and shift, as well as additive vs subtractive bilingualism. Period of arrival is singled out as a main factor in influencing patterns of social adjustment, as well as language maintenance and shift. The paper argues that the wider social and policy context plays a significant role in the language development of ethnolinguistic minority communities. It provides some evidence that the Anglo-Celtic host society in Australia is seen as favourable for minority language maintenance, and this potentially leads to increased societal bilingualism.