Family Networking of Bilingual Couples: Reactions to Otherness

Stępkowska, Agnieszka

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-42734-4_7

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…A wider aspect relates to the family networking of bilingual couples as evidenced by the language choices of their families and acquaintances. Although partners distance themselves from national identity and emphasize other identity facets, some of their family members do not necessarily follow suit (Stępkowska, 2020). Evidently, family language policies have been so far the most studied field among couples who are bilingual with Polish (Romanowski, 2018; Stępkowska, 2017a; Szramek-Karcz, 2016; Wąsikiewicz-Firlej & Lankiewicz, 2019).…”

Section: The Framework Of Relevant Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Language experience of immigrant women in bilingual couples with Poles

Stępkowska

2020

International Journal of Bilingualism

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Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: The article focuses on language experiences shared by female expatriates and aims to investigate the circumstances which are related to their language acquisition and communication in the couple. The research question concerns the degree of socialization of these women into the Polish language as adult bilinguals via marriages to Poles. Design/methodology/approach: Based on my recent data from in-depth interviews, analyzed by means of qualitative methodology, I concentrate on the sociolinguistic complexity of bilingual couples in Poland. Data and analysis: I analyze excerpts of interviews produced by eight couples of immigrant women who settled down in Poland to live with Poles. I investigate these women’s talk with regard to their subjective evaluations of language repertoires resulting from their individual histories of L2 acquisition and their language ideologies reflected in communication patterns with their Polish husbands. Findings/conclusions: My data suggest that language competence relates to the communication quality in cross-lingual and intercultural couples, as subjectively assessed by the target women. I found evidence for apparent reshuffles in language repertoires, an appreciation for formal language learning and the specific hierarchy of priorities in private communication. The results reveal language attitudes which affect the dyadic communication and the sense of ethnicity among mixed couples. Originality: The article views multilingualism and immigration from a new perspective by giving the voice to women living in bilingual couples. The novelty relies on the less studied Polish context where immigrant women from different ethnic backgrounds share language experiences and life situations. Significance/implications: This is significant because the qualitative investigation of the socialization process through language helps understand and interpret linguistic phenomena in terms of the meanings brought to intercultural relationships.

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Section: The Framework Of Relevant Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Language experience of immigrant women in bilingual couples with Poles

Stępkowska

2020

International Journal of Bilingualism

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Some bilingual couples speak lingua francas: personal pronoun indexicality in the light of positioning theory

Stępkowska

2024

International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism

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Acquisition of Polish among Foreigners in Bilingual Couples with Poles: Impact Factors

Stępkowska

2022

Białostockie Studia Prawnicze

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The article considers bilingual couples of Poles with foreigners residing in Poland with a special focus on the acquisition of Polish by the latter. Foreigners from such couples function not only in their families but also in wider circles of the host society. Communication needs resulting from contacts outside a bilingual couple and job commitments lead to situations when life in the host society becomes a challenge if these needs are not met. Theoretical framework for the analysis and interpretation of this phenomenon is the Complementarity Principle (Grosjean) and the concept of a domain (Fishman). Data were obtained from 24 in-depth interviews with bilingual couples. Qualitative methodology made it possible to grasp the complexity of the researched cases and phenomena which unveiled specific trends. Findings of the study revealed major factors that had a direct impact on the acquisition of Polish among foreigners in bilingual couples with Poles. The key impact factors referred to (1) the way of communication in the couple, (2) the couple’s language strategies towards children, and (3) the contact with the partner’s extended family, including the type of professional activity.

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Family Networking of Bilingual Couples: Reactions to Otherness

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Language experience of immigrant women in bilingual couples with Poles

Language experience of immigrant women in bilingual couples with Poles

Some bilingual couples speak lingua francas: personal pronoun indexicality in the light of positioning theory

Acquisition of Polish among Foreigners in Bilingual Couples with Poles: Impact Factors

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