Cannot Remember Well? Socio-Psycholinguistic Studies Say Yes

Pragmatic first language attrition emerges when an individual’s native language pragmatic competence diminishes due to the influence of a second language. The importance of pragmatic competence in effective communication is paramount as it dictates how language is appropriately used in social contexts. This research examines the performance of both early and late immigrants in South Australia concerning pragmatic first language attrition. The study also examines the psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic factors that impact the attrition of the Iranian immigrants’ primary language through semi-structured interviews. Employing a qualitative methodology, data were collected from eight immigrants in South Australia. The study found that late bilinguals exhibited a lesser degree of attrition compared to early bilinguals. Such insights suggest language educators should consider the sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic factors affecting pragmatic attrition in their pedagogical strategies. The present study promotes the importance of researching language loss in immigrant communities and highlights the preservation of diverse languages in multicultural environments.