The role of polymedia in heritage language maintenance: a family language policy perspective

Abstract

Characterised by media saturation and hypermobility, contemporary society has presented polymedia as an integral element of family life. The expansion and recognition of polymedia in language learning calls for exploring its role in heritage language (HL) maintenance. However, despite growing research interest in polymedia in diverse realms, there have been limited attempts at linking polymedia to family language policy (FLP). The present study deploys the theory of polymedia within the FLP framework to explore the role of polymedia in transforming HL-oriented FLPs to achieve a fresh understanding of FLP in a tech-saturated world. Through in-depth interviews with 15 Chinese-Australian parents who are committed to transmitting Chinese as a heritage language (CHL) to their next generations, parents’ paradoxical ideologies and dynamic practices around navigating polymedia in FLPs are documented. The findings highlight the sociocultural qualities and applications of polymedia in HL-oriented FLPs, which travel beyond the traditional role of technology. The findings may be of interest to migrant families, researchers, and policymakers concerning HLs in Australia and globally.

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