A Case Study About Families Language Policy From Chinese Immigrant Families

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Family Language Practices Across Contexts (Table 1)

Abstract

This study explores how Chinese immigrant parents’ personal experiences, intersecting with historical and social contexts, shape their language ideologies, practices, and management strategies. Specifically, it addresses the question: How do Chinese immigrant families develop their family language policy in the northeastern U.S.? Through the examination and coding of field notes and interview transcripts of three Chinese immigrant families in Massachusetts, three key findings emerged: 1) Inheriting traditional Chinese education with mixed language policy; 2) nurturing the child under one-parent-one-language policy; and 3) shifting language policies in response to the children's growth. This study sheds light on the complex dynamics of family language policy among Chinese immigrant families, contributing to the broader understanding of bilingual/multilingual education in immigrant contexts.

Author

• Qinghua Liu, Boston College