Speaking Danish, Being Danish? Refugee Perspectives on Language, Identity, and Belonging in Denmark

From a perspective of language psychology, this study explores how refugees perceive and experience the Danish language in relation to identity, inclusion, exclusion, and belonging. To examine these dynamics, this study draws on three theoretical frameworks: Social Identity Theory, Membership Categorization Analysis, and Social Capital Theory. The central research question guiding this study is: How do refugees in Denmark perceive and navigate the Danish language as a social boundary, and how do their experiences with it shape their sense of identity, inclusion, exclusion, and belonging in Danish society?

 

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