While Turkish remains the only official language of Turkey, the country is linguistically diverse, with 44 living languages (Ethnologue, 2024). About 35% of its population has a non-Turkish language in their family heritage, with Kurdish and Arabic being the most prevalent minority languages (Andrews and Benninghaus, 2002; Brizić, 2006). This diversity also extends to the Turkey-origin immigrants in Germany (Aydın, 2016; Østergaard-Nielsen, 2002). Crucially, significant differences in cultural and emotional integration patterns are observed among Turkey-origin migrants from different linguistic backgrounds (Demmrich and Arakon, 2020).
Research indicates that minority language speakers in Turkey often conceal their identities due to social and political pressures (Brizić, 2006; Brizić and Yağmur, 2008). The oppression of minorities has been a longstanding issue, complicating efforts to understand and connect with these groups. This difficulty persists among Turkey-origin individuals in Germany, where language use, ethnic and national identity, and discrimination queries often fail to distinguish between different ethnic and linguistic origins. To understand the extent to which intergenerational language transmission can be attributed to intra- and intergroup relations of the Turkey-origin linguistic minorities in Germany, particularly those with Kurdish or Arabic languages in their linguistic background, I have started the project MULTITUDE (Multiplicity of Languages Brought from Turkey to Germany). The project also explores effective ways to sample these communities online through an interdisciplinary lens. Preliminary findings from the 22 in-depth interviews suggest that the majority prioritize Turkish language proficiency for their children in Germany, not only due to practical needs and to preserve their culture but also as a protective measure due to historical oppression in Turkey. On the other hand, some, especially Kurdish speakers see preserving their language in Germany as a form of cultural resistance to political oppression by the Turkish state. The data also shows that the inflow of Syrian refugees into Germany has negatively affected Arabic speakers' attitudes towards Arabic. To explore the interplay between multiple languages, identities, and group relations to a larger extent, a survey is currently being developed.
