Heritage language maintenance and digital practices to support bilingualism

The use of technology is widely recognised as central in modern parenting, and in bilingual childrearing, technology has no lesser position. Emerging languages in Australia, such as Spanish, are under-researched and allow the study of migrants’ diverse practices. This event presents research that explored the linguistic practices of Spanish-speaking families in Sydney, Australia, a growing demographic.

In a society that remains resolutely monolingual in English in its institutions, such as schools, multilingual families strive to maintain their heritage language through technology and intergenerational ties. The research also investigated the ideologies influencing family language policies (FLPs), such as the enduring deficit view on children’s bilingual practices. The findings denote a tension between the desire to minimise screen time for developmental reasons and a desire to maximise it for Spanish development. Notably, there is evidence of innovative uses of digital technology for heritage language maintenance, such as multiple modalities (e.g., text messaging and voice recording) in intergenerational digital-mediated communication.

This research is significant because it focuses on families’ digital experiences while spatially separated and during children’s critical years for language acquisition. The project will add to our knowledge of the language practices and beliefs in the family in two ways: by contributing to the literature on FLP in transnational multilingual families and by investigating the usage of digital technologies for language maintenance. This will help parents, schools, and practitioners better understand how novel and safe technology use can aid in heritage language maintenance.

This in-person event is part of a seminar series hosted by the Centre for Applied Linguistics.

Related links

• Centre for Applied Linguistics
• Department of Culture, Communication and Media

Image

Cultura Creative / Adobe Stock.