LANGUAGE CHOICE IN INTERMARRIAGE FAMILIES IN JAPAN (FOCUSING JAPANESE-INDONESIAN COUPLE)
Keywords:
Indonesian Wife, Intermarriage, Japan, Language choice, Life Story MethodAbstract
Recently, the number of intermarriages in Japan has increased rapidly. Many studies have shown that language and communication are significant problems in intermarriages. This study analyzes the choice of language and the factors that influence the language choice of Indonesian women in intermarriages using the life story method. In all surveyed households, the primary language at home is Japanese. Most children of intermarriage learn only Japanese. The positive attitude of parents and families towards bilingualism affects the use of language. There are several Factors Affecting Language Choice in Intermarriage Families, namely, lack of enthusiasm and effort to teach Indonesian to children, the lack of support from Japanese families, the husband's speaking ability, and the lack of knowledge about parental language education. The results show that Indonesian wives' knowledge of bilingualism and parents' positive attitude toward bilingualism greatly influence language use in the home. Therefore, Indonesian wives need bilingual education knowledge so their children can communicate in Indonesian and Japanese.