Capacity, Opportunity and Desire in Heritage Language Variation (CODE-V) aims to test the (interrelated) hypotheses that: (i) heritage language (HL) competence is affected not only by quantity of input but also quality of input; (ii) community center engagement (CCE) in childhood and adulthood can offer HL input and use opportunities that are qualitatively and quantitatively richer and more varied from what HSs encounter in their wider community; and (iii) the nature of CCE matters significantly in HL competence and maintenance across individuals and generations. CODE-V will test these hypotheses in four interrelated dimensions: individual, social/cultural, educational, and linguistic. Indeed, CODE-V comprises the most systematic study to date of an understudied —mostly brushed over as a potential factor in passing— but significantly abundant and critical context for HL development and maintenance, namely community centers. In doing so, CODE-V offers an equitable balance between scientific and societal impacts.
