The Relationship between Language Attitude and Ethnocultural Identity Components in Three Generations of Iranian Immigrants in Bahrain

The purpose of this research is to investigate the changes as well as the effect of the language in use (Persian or Arabic) on ethnocultural identity and its components across three generations of Iranians migrating in Bahrain by means of the standard questionnaire of Mutual Intercultural Relations in Plural Societies (MIRIPS). The components under study were language in use and attitude toward Persian language versus Arabic language, preserving Iranian versus Arab traditions, attitude towards social activities, attitude towards social connections, and friends, as well as the sense of belonging to Iranian culture as compared with Arabic culture. The findings of the research indicate that there is a significant difference across the three generations in terms of the attitudes towards these components with the first generation immigrants feeling more attached to their primary identity group (i.e. the Iranian ethnic identity) as compared to the other groups. Besides, it was observed that this cultural affinity and sense of belonging to their primary identity group have slowly diminished in other generations, a result which is visible in all components of ethnocultural identity. Findings do not show any distinct gap among the generations; yet the ethnocultural identity can be observed continuously across the different generations. Also, the results of Pearson correlation test display that the language affects all components of ethnocultural identity showing a positive and meaningful relationship with them.