Plurilingual family language policy of internal immigrant families in Suzhou, China: capital, identity and agency

Abstract

In the context of globalisation and large-scale migration, family language policy (FLP) plays a crucial role in shaping language use and identity among immigrant populations. This study examines the language management, practices, and ideologies of internal migrants in Suzhou, China as they navigate a multilingual language environment. Using a mixed-method approach combining questionnaire survey and interview, this research explores the values and functions of various languages in immigrants’ language life and their role in identity construction. The findings indicate that plurilingualism is the dominant FLP strategy for immigrant families, with Putonghua prioritised in family language practices. In contrast, the local Suzhou dialect is learned primarily for social integration and insider identity construction, while immigrants’ hometown dialects serve as a means of cultural heritage maintenance. FLP decisions are shaped by the differential power and capital associated with various language varieties and involve multiple agents, including parents, grandparents and children. The study highlights the tensions that arise as families negotiate the relationship between the dominant national language, the host community language, and their heritage languages, offering implications for language policy and immigrant integration in multilingual cities.

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