Conflicting language ideologies and contradictory language practices in Singaporean bilingual families

Curdt-Christiansen, X.-L. (2016) Conflicting language ideologies and contradictory language practices in Singaporean bilingual families. Jounal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 37 (7). pp. 694-709. ISSN 0143-4632 doi: 10.1080/01434632.2015.1127926

Abstract/Summary

Informed by family language policy (FLP) as the theoretical framework, I illustrate in this paper how language ideologies can be incongruous and language policies can be conflicting through three multilingual families in Singapore representing three major ethnic groups – Chinese, Malay and Indian. By studying their family language audits, observing their language practices, and engaging in conversations about their language ideologies, I look at what these families do and do not do and what they claim to do and not to do. Data were collected over a period of 6 months with more than 700 minutes of recording of actual interactions. Analysis of the data reveals that language ideologies are ‘power-inflected’ and tend to become the source of educational and social tensions which in turn shape family language practices. In Singapore these tensions are illustrated by the bilingual policy recognising mother tongues (MTs) and English as official languages, and its educational policy establishing English as the medium of instruction. The view of English as having instrumental values and MTs as having cultural functions reveals that language choices and practices in family domains are value-laden in everyday interactions and explicitly negotiated and established through FLP.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/52365
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/01434632.2015.1127926
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > Institute of Education > Language and Literacy in Education
Publisher	Taylor and Francies
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