ABSTRACT

Informed by Spolsky’s language policy model and the notion of audience design, this study addresses the under-researched context of the multi-generational family originating in the old Polish migration to Sweden. Two families were studied with a focus on (i) intra-familial language choice, and (ii) language policies derived from this choice and from individual reflections. Data were collected through an open-ended bilingual form and interviews, and then underwent descriptive, thematic and appraisal analysis. The findings suggest that family language policy is a heterogeneous social phenomenon. At the ideological level, Polish is the language of the family at home. At the level of practice, family members modify the policy in multiple ways. Language management is primarily verbalised as consequent usage of Polish within the family. Also, an agency belief is expressed, meaning that subsequent generations make independent linguistic choices. With respect to the influence of audience design, the families adjust to the language of the participating audience. With a non-participating audience, Swedish is a preferred or accepted choice. This paper concludes that there should be a follow-up study on the families presented here, which would further contribute to the still limited understanding of how family language policies are reshaped by later generations.

摘要

受到Spolsky语言政策模型和受众群体设计观念的启发，这项研究针对的是波兰老移民到瑞典的多代家庭的研究不足背景。研究了两个家庭，重点是（i）家庭内部语言选择，以及（ii）从这种选择和个人反思中得出的语言政策。通过开放式双语形式和访谈收集数据，然后进行描述性，主题性和评估性分析。研究结果表明，家庭语言政策是一种异质的社会现象。在意识形态上，波兰语是家庭的母语。在实践层面，家庭成员可以通过多种方式修改政策。语言管理的主要语言是在家庭中随后使用波兰语。还，表达了一种机构信念，这意味着后代可以做出独立的语言选择。关于受众设计的影响，家庭会根据参与受众的语言进行调整。对于不参与的受众，瑞典语是首选或公认的选择。本文的结论是，应该对此处介绍的家庭进行后续研究，这将进一步促进对后代如何重塑家庭语言政策的理解仍然有限。