Factors that determine the language of communication in multilingual families

Abstract

South Africa has complex multilingual family structures, mainly linked to its history of colonization and migration. As a result of the multilingual nature of society, there has been a growth of mixed and interracial marriages in South Africa. The majority of these family structures are confronted by difficult choices about which language(s) to use within their households, especially in consideration of their children who are being raised in these multilingual contexts. To fully understand the factors that influence language decisions in the home, the study employed Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. The study utilized a qualitative research approach, guided by a social constructivist paradigm. The population for the study were two families with a mixed marriage structure. Two parents from different ethnic groups who were married or staying together with a minimum of two children in their family unit were purposively selected for the study. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. An inductive thematic analysis was employed to identify themes and sub-themes of the research findings. The findings of the study reveal that the value attached to a language plays an important role in the language selected for communication within a multilingual family. Additionally, in a multilingual family, the decision about which language to use is made to facilitate the social inclusion of the family members outside the home. Finally, language is a carrier of culture that families use to transfer their culture from one generation to another. The study has recommended that further research into multilingual families in both mixed and interracial marriages be conducted, especially within the diverse South African context post the apartheid era. Additionally, the role of children in influencing multilingual families’ language decisions (directly and indirectly) can be further explored.