What Role Does Language Play In Where Migrants Settle?

It's been more than a month since German Chancellor Angela Merkel put out the welcome mat for tens of thousands of migrants stranded in Hungary to come to Germany. No questions asked.

Her actions did not win her the Nobel Peace Prize, nor many fans in Germany – her approval rating has plummeted and citizens have taken to the streets in protest. Cities like Hamburg are scrambling to find a way to house the refugees before the winter cold strikes.

But what about the language barrier between residents and migrants? Will it be easy for them to pick up? Are some migrants choosing to go elsewhere because of an easier transition to their native tongue or because they speak English?

Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson explores the role of linguistics in migration with Ulrich Ammon, author of “The Status of German Language in the World” and a linguistics professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

Guest

• Ulrich Ammon, author of “The Status of German Language in the World” and a linguistics professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

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