Abstract Motility (sometimes referred to as ‘mobility capital’ or ‘mobility potential’) is a still understudied and underutilised concept in both migration and sociolinguistic literature. Perhaps even more than actual mobility, it can shed an important light on the possible connection between language and migration. In this theoretical article, it will be argued that motility can both be a potential catalyst for language shift, but can in other instances also contribute to language maintenance. Inspired by Fishman’s Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (GIDS) and Simon and Lewis’ Expanded Graded Intergenerational Scale (EGIDS), it is assumed that the most important factor in processes of language shift is the attitude of parents, in particular their willingness to transmit their heritage language to their children. This willingness is connected with the perception of the value of the heritage language, which might be, in addition to other factors, influenced by the mobility capital the heritage language might give future generations. The interplay between migrant networks in different countries and the country of origin is key in understanding the parents’ decision-making process. Furthermore, the three main features of motility (access, competence and appropriation) fit quite logically in the already existing EGIDS scale. This article thus argues that motility is a valuable and necessary concept for sociolinguistic research and migration scholars alike.

中文翻译：

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能动性在语言转换研究中的相关性

摘要 流动性（有时称为“流动资本”或“流动潜力”）在移民和社会语言学文献中仍然是一个尚未得到充分研究和利用的概念。也许比实际的流动性更重要，它可以揭示语言与迁移之间可能存在的联系。在这篇理论文章中，将论证运动性既可以是语言转变的潜在催化剂，也可以在其他情况下有助于语言维护。受费什曼分级代际中断量表 (GIDS) 和西蒙和刘易斯扩展分级代际量表 (EGIDS) 的启发，假设语言转变过程中最重要的因素是父母的态度，尤其是他们传承遗产的意愿给孩子的语言。这种意愿与对遗产语言价值的看法有关，除了其他因素外，这可能还受到遗产语言可能给后代带来的流动资本的影响。不同国家的移民网络与原籍国之间的相互作用是理解父母决策过程的关键。此外，动力的三个主要特征（访问、能力和挪用）在现有的 EGIDS 量表中非常符合逻辑。因此，本文认为，对于社会语言学研究和移民学者来说，流动性是一个有价值且必要的概念。不同国家的移民网络与原籍国之间的相互作用是理解父母决策过程的关键。此外，动力的三个主要特征（访问、能力和挪用）在现有的 EGIDS 量表中非常符合逻辑。因此，本文认为，对于社会语言学研究和移民学者来说，流动性是一个有价值且必要的概念。不同国家的移民网络与原籍国之间的相互作用是理解父母决策过程的关键。此外，动力的三个主要特征（访问、能力和挪用）在现有的 EGIDS 量表中非常符合逻辑。因此，本文认为，对于社会语言学研究和移民学者来说，流动性是一个有价值且必要的概念。