GERMAN ACQUISITION, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND VULNERABILITY AMONG TURKISH IMMIGRANTS IN GRAZ

Oya Topdemir Koçyiğit

Article Details

GERMAN ACQUISITION, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND VULNERABILITY AMONG TURKISH IMMIGRANTS IN GRAZ

Authors:

Oya Topdemir Koçyiğit

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Antropoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi , pp.194-225

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001302192

pISSN:

2459-0150

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Graz, Austria, which stands out as an important destination in Turkeys migration history, is a popular city where hundreds of languages are spoken. Graz has been receiving immigrants from Turkey since the 1960s and has increasingly become the center of attention. This article explores the relationship between German acquisition and the participation and vulnerability of Turkish immigrants living in the city. The article discusses the phenomenon of migrant vulnerability based on the data of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2018-2019 through participant observation and qualitative interviews. According to the research data, limited knowledge of German keeps migrants, especially women, largely in the in-group life, while the competent use of German opens up space for migrants to participate in life beyond the group boundaries through the possibilities of out-group encounters and contacts. Moreover, identity boundaries such as Anatolianness and Europeanness are marked in relation to the use of German, which in turn regulates the relationships established. The article argues that in the context of Austrian adaptation and integration policies, the failure to overcome the language barrier in the process of learning German reinforces migrant vulnerability, while in the case of overcoming it, gender-based relations take new forms in migrant families whose transnational contacts can intensify. In this context, it is concluded that there are improvements in the vulnerability of migrant women, especially through the production of new female subjectivities. The results provide new findings for in-depth and interdisciplinary research with local and other migrant populations in Austria as well as for updating international migration policies.

 Graz, Austria, which stands out as an important destination in Turkeys migration history, is a popular city where hundreds of languages are spoken. Graz has been receiving immigrants from Turkey since the 1960s and has increasingly become the center of attention. This article explores the relationship between German acquisition and the participation and vulnerability of Turkish immigrants living in the city. The article discusses the phenomenon of migrant vulnerability based on the data of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2018-2019 through participant observation and qualitative interviews. According to the research data, limited knowledge of German keeps migrants, especially women, largely in the in-group life, while the competent use of German opens up space for migrants to participate in life beyond the group boundaries through the possibilities of out-group encounters and contacts. Moreover, identity boundaries such as Anatolianness and Europeanness are marked in relation to the use of German, which in turn regulates the relationships established. The article argues that in the context of Austrian adaptation and integration policies, the failure to overcome the language barrier in the process of learning German reinforces migrant vulnerability, while in the case of overcoming it, gender-based relations take new forms in migrant families whose transnational contacts can intensify. In this context, it is concluded that there are improvements in the vulnerability of migrant women, especially through the production of new female subjectivities. The results provide new findings for in-depth and interdisciplinary research with local and other migrant populations in Austria as well as for updating international migration policies.

 Graz, Austria, which stands out as an important destination in Turkeys migration history, is a popular city where hundreds of languages are spoken. Graz has been receiving immigrants from Turkey since the 1960s and has increasingly become the center of attention. This article explores the relationship between German acquisition and the participation and vulnerability of Turkish immigrants living in the city. The article discusses the phenomenon of migrant vulnerability based on the data of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2018-2019 through participant observation and qualitative interviews. According to the research data, limited knowledge of German keeps migrants, especially women, largely in the in-group life, while the competent use of German opens up space for migrants to participate in life beyond the group boundaries through the possibilities of out-group encounters and contacts. Moreover, identity boundaries such as Anatolianness and Europeanness are marked in relation to the use of German, which in turn regulates the relationships established. The article argues that in the context of Austrian adaptation and integration policies, the failure to overcome the language barrier in the process of learning German reinforces migrant vulnerability, while in the case of overcoming it, gender-based relations take new forms in migrant families whose transnational contacts can intensify. In this context, it is concluded that there are improvements in the vulnerability of migrant women, especially through the production of new female subjectivities. The results provide new findings for in-depth and interdisciplinary research with local and other migrant populations in Austria as well as for updating international migration policies.

 Türkiyenin göç tarihinde önemli bir varış yeri olarak öne çıkan Avusturyanın Graz şehri, yüzlerce dilin konuşulduğu gözde bir şehir konumundadır. Graz, 1960lı yıllardan beri Türkiyeden göç almakta ve giderek daha fazla ilgi odağı haline gelmektedir. Bu makale, kentte yaşayan Türkiye göçmenlerinin toplumsal yaşama katılımı ve kırılganlıklarının Almanca edinimiyle ilişkisini ortaya koymaktadır. Makalede, 2018-2019 yıllarında katılarak gözlem ve niteliksel görüşmelerle yürütülen etnografik alan araştırmasının verilerinden hareketle göçmen kırılganlığı olgusu ele alınacaktır. Araştırma verilerine göre sınırlı Almanca bilgisi, göçmenleri ve özellikle de kadınları büyük oranda grup içi yaşamında tutmakta, Almancanın yetkin kullanımı ise grup dışı karşılaşma ve temasların olanaklarıyla göçmenleri grup sınırlarının ötesinde yaşama katılmalarına alan açmaktadır. Dahası, Almanca kullanımıyla ilişkilendirilerek Anadoluluk ve Avrupalılık gibi kimlik sınırları işaretlenmekte, bu da kurulan ilişkileri düzenlemektedir. Makale, Avusturyaya uyum ve entegrasyon politikaları bağlamında Almanca öğrenme süreçlerinde dil bariyerini aşamamanın göçmen kırılganlığını pekiştirdiğini, aşma durumunda ise ulus aşırı temasları yoğunlaşabilen göçmen ailelerinde toplumsal cinsiyet temelli ilişkilerin yeni biçimler aldığını savunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda özellikle yeni kadın öznelliklerinin üretilmesiyle göçmen kadın kırılganlığına direnç geliştirme olduğu sonucu ortaya çıkmıştır. Varılan sonuçlar, hem Avusturyadaki yerel ve diğer göçmen kesimlerle yapılacak derinlikli ve disiplinler arası araştırmalar hem de uluslararası göç politikalarının güncellenmesi açısından yeni bulgular sağlamaktadır.

Article Details

GERMAN ACQUISITION, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND VULNERABILITY AMONG TURKISH IMMIGRANTS IN GRAZ

Authors:

Oya Topdemir Koçyiğit

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Antropoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi , pp.194-225

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001302192

pISSN:

2459-0150

Austria

Turkish migrants

German

social life

vulnerabilityAvusturya

Türkiye göçmenleri

Almanca

toplumsal yaşam

kırılganlık

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Oya Topdemir Koçyiğit

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Antropoloji (Diğer)

Journal: Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi , pp.194-225

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001302192

pISSN: 2459-0150

Issues

Authors:

Oya Topdemir Koçyiğit

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Antropoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi , pp.194-225

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001302192

pISSN:

2459-0150