ABSTRACT
Research on immigrant assimilation or absorption in the country of destination has increased in importance during the past two decades.2 It has been concerned with implicit and explicit investments in human capital, including skills that are both internationally transferable and specific to the origin or the destination. An important aspect of this investment is the acquisition of language skills relevant for the destination labour market and consumption activities.3 Immigrants may choose a destination, in part, because of the closeness of its dominant language to their own origin language, may make investments in the destination language prior to immigration, or do so after immigration, and, for some, all three factors may be relevant (Chiswick and Miller, 1994a).
