(In)visibilization of migration-driven linguistic diversity: What can we know about migratory languages demographics in Europe?

Abstract

This study provides a critical analysis of the data sources used in migration demolinguistics studies, with a focus on Spanish-speaking migration in Europe, and examines both direct and indirect sources of data, including population censuses, registers, surveys, and data on the labor market and educational system. The paper highlights the challenges posed by the lack of data on migration languages, which may be linked to monolingual ideologies, as well as the issue of data comparability across different sources. The authors emphasize the need for standardized data sources and better coordination between different sources to improve the quality and comparability of data on migrant populations. The paper underscores the importance of understanding the social and cultural contexts in which language use occurs to achieve a more nuanced understanding of language use and ability in migrant populations.