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Cited by 366Multilingual Education and PolicyEFL/ESL Teaching and LearningLinguistic and Sociocultural Studies

Linguistic Distance: A Quantitative Measure of the Distance Between English and Other Languages

Chiswick, Barry R., Miller, Paul W.·2005·Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
DOI 10.1080/14790710508668395
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Abstract

This paper develops a scalar or quantitative measure of the ‘distance’ between English and a myriad of other (non-native American) languages. This measure is based on the difficulty Americans have learning other languages. The linguistic distance measure is then used in an analysis of the determinants of English language proficiency among adult immigrants in the USA and Canada. It is shown that, when other determinants of English language proficiency are the same, the greater the measure of linguistic distance, the poorer is the respondent's English language proficiency. This measure can be used in research, evaluation and practitioner analyses, and for diagnostic purposes regarding linguistic minorities in English-speaking countries. The methodology can also be applied to develop linguistic distance measures for other languages.

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References 22 · Cited by 366

Authors
Chiswick, B. R., & Miller, P. W.
Affiliations
  • IZA - Institute of Labor Economics (DE)
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2005-01-15
Volume
26
Issue
1
Pages
1-11
ISSN
  • 0143-4632 (ISSN-L)
  • 1747-7557
DOI
10.1080/14790710508668395
OpenAlex
W3122547419
Cited by
366
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
FWCI
34.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
  • eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Multilingual Education and Policy
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
  • Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Linguistic and Sociocultural Studies
Keywords
linguistic distance, English proficiency, language learning difficulties, second language acquisition, linguistic minorities, English-speaking countries, language barriers

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