From Inherited Tongues to Fluid Identities : Language Use and Belonging in Two Generations of the Serbian Diaspora in Sweden

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines how first- and second-generation members of the Serbian diaspora in Sweden use Serbian and Swedish in everyday life, and how these language practices are embedded in processes of social positioning, access to resources, and intergenerational mother tongue transmission. Drawing on ten semi-structured interviews, complemented by informal conversations and observations in everyday social settings, the research focuses on language choice, proficiency, fluency, and accent as factors structuring participation in both family and institutional contexts. The analysis reveals that Swedish is primarily associated with education, employment, and institutional interaction, functioning as a key resource for navigating Swedish society and enabling social mobility. Serbian, in contrast, is closely tied to family relations, emotional belonging, and connections to the country of origin, while also carrying symbolic value within diaspora networks. Across generations, language use is highly context-dependent and shaped by one’s interlocutor, the specific setting, and communicative purpose rather than fixed linguistic boundaries. However, clear generational differences emerge in how these practices are understood and mobilized across social contexts and domains. The thesis further demonstrates that experiences of inclusion and social positioning are closely linked to Swedish language proficiency, while perceived accent and linguistic difference continue to shape social recognition, particularly among the first generation. For the second generation, bilingualism is framed as a flexible repertoire, allowing movement between linguistic and social environments. Attention is also given to mother-tongue education in Sweden, which provides institutional support for Serbian language learning, particularly in literacy development, although its effectiveness is uneven and dependent on teaching conditions and school organization. Intergenerational transmission is therefore shown to rely primarily on everyday use within the family, with formal education playing a supplementary role. Overall, the findings highlight that language practices are central to how Serbian migrants in Sweden navigate social positioning, institutional participation, and intergenerational continuity, demonstrating that language is a key medium through which social life is continuously produced and negotiated across contexts.