INTEGRATION AND SOCIAL IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF TURKEY

Abstract

Mobility has become a frequent phenomenon nowadays as the world is changing and people now are more multilingual than before. Language learning, globalization, and the construction of new identities have become the focus of social sciences. Bilinguals and polyglots of refugees and immigrants around the world have something to do with the linguistic resources they have. These refugees have to integrate into the new communities that hosted them. This study used a mixed method, Likert scale questionnaire consisting of 50 Items about integration, language learning, and social identity construction and was shared online. 5 factors were considered to analyze the questionnaire (Performance – Motivation and self-support – Attitudinal and personality – Perceptions and expectations – Social identity). The results of the questionnaire supported 12 hypotheses while 3 were not supported and were compared with previous studies. However, this research results revealed that the participants have a powerful attitude, personality, motivation as well as self support of utilizing and learning new languages which are considered as one of the main factors that increase new social identifications. This study enhanced the way how the phenomena of mobility and language learning influence each other mutually and thus lead refugees to construct a new social identity while integrating in the new society. Keywords: Immigration, Mobility,