Value Transmission in a Multicultural and Multilingual Context: A Case Study Example of Americans and Japanese in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a multicultural and multilingual country with three official national languages and approximately half of the population (47.1%) composed of foreigners (Statec, 2022). Although most foreigners in Luxembourg have European roots, the number of non-Europeans is rising, with sizeable American and Japanese communities. The US, as target country for immigration is known for its diversity. Japan is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world. The purpose of this study is to explore the acculturation experiences of Americans and Japanese in Luxembourg. We explore, if and to what extent this contrast between multicultural US and monocultural Japan adds to the complexity of adapting to a multicultural and multilingual context. We focus on the intergenerational value transmission (i.e., language, traditions) within this context.
Adopting a qualitative approach, we explored in semi-structured interviews, supplemented by visual primes, different facets of daily life including language practices. Participants were 8 women (5 American, 3 Japanese, age range between 35 and 61 years, M = 48.3) in international marriages with children (on average 2) and most having lived in Luxembourg for more than 10 years. Results show the various compromises participants made regarding language (i.e., within-family language choice, school language choice, friendship groups) and traditions (i.e. local and home traditions). Although the benefits of a multilingual society were noted among all participants, challenges were also experienced. The results shed light on the difficulty of integration and transmission of values in a multicultural context. Implications and differences between Japanese and American participants will be discussed.