Abstract
span style=color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);The aim of this article is to illustrate the fluid nature of family language policy (FLP) and how the realities of any one FLP are re-negotiated by caregivers and children in tandem. In particular, the paper will focus on the affective dimensions of FLP and will demonstrate how the same reality in this case, a grandmothers use of a child-centred discourse style as a means to encouraging her grandchildren to use their minority language, Scottish Gaelic can play out differently among siblings. Using a longitudinal perspective, the paper begins by examining a recorded interaction between a grandmother, Nana, spana href=https: www.degruyter.com view j mult.ahead-of-print multi-2017-0018 multi-2017-0018.xml#j_multi-2017-0018_fn_001 id=xref_j_multi-2017-0018_fn_001 style=box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 98, 125); text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); title=All names are pseudonyms.span style=box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 9.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em;1 span aspan style=color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); and her granddaughter Maggie (3;4) and will discuss how Nanas high use of questions and spanem style=box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);laissez-faire emspan style=color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); attitude to Maggies use of English contribute to the child-centred nature of the interaction, and in turn, to Maggies playful use of Gaelic. The paper then examines an interaction recorded five years later in which Nana interacts with Maggies brother Jacob (4;0) in the same affective style; however, unlike Maggie, Jacob evidences overtly negative affective stances towards his minority language. The paper concludes by discussing these observations in light of the reflexive nature of FLP in terms of emotional affect, linguistic input, and language shift. span
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Multilingua-Journal Of Cross-Cultural And Interlanguage Comm |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2018 |
Authors (Note for portal: view the doc link for the full list of authors)
- Authors
- Smith-Christmas, C.