Research Seminar - Dr Kaisa Pankakoski

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The aim of this seminar is to focus on two aspects of multilingual family language policy [FLP]: (1) parental language transmission and acquisition methods, and (2) children’s experiences of FLP. The seminar is based on findings of my PhD study involving fourteen case study families who are raising multilingual children in linguistically diverse, officially bilingual capital city areas (Cardiff, Wales and Helsinki, Finland). The results of the research suggest that FLP is challenging for both parents and children. In some cases this may arise from the parent's FLP goals not being achieved, or from the parental expectations regarding the language development of the children not being met, or from the children not conforming with aspects of FLP such as them finding one language much 'easier' to acquire and use than the other FLP languages. A key insight from the research, explored in this seminar, is that some FLP strategies may be seen to negatively impact family wellbeing and, in the case of some families, lead to a significant change in FLP.