Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
This study investigates Family Language Policy (FLP) in Greek-Finnish families living in Greece and the language management methods in use in these families. Additionally, the study examines what...Show moreThis study investigates Family Language Policy (FLP) in Greek-Finnish families living in Greece and the language management methods in use in these families. Additionally, the study examines what kinds of factors influence the FLP in the families under study, if any. The research is mainly guided by Spolsky’s (2004) three-tiered language policy model: language practices, language beliefs or ideology and efforts to modify said practices through language management. The target group for this research are Greek-Finnish families living in Greece, in which at least one parent is of Finnish heritage and speaks Finnish. The research was conducted through two separate online surveys: one was intended for the Finnish-speaking parents and one for their offspring, respectively. The survey inquired about the FLP in the families through questions related to the Finnish language and culture, including multiple choice questions and open-ended questions with an option to respond with text or audio. The results showed that the one-parent-one-language (OPOL) method was commonly in use in the families. A high impact belief, which refers to the parental belief about control over their children’s language skills (De Houwer 1999), and a strong ethnocultural identity were seen as factors affecting the FLP in a positive way. This means that the family members’ attitudes are in favor of learning the heritage language and passing it on to the next generation. Some external factors to the family, such as pressure from the Greek-speaking majority community, had a negative influence on family language policy, which could manifest for example as a resistance for passing on the home language. This study contributed to a better understanding of multilingual family life and FLP in families in which two small languages, Finnish and Greek, are spoken. These languages are not often studied in tandem. Future research could focus on child agency in such families in order to understand better the role children play in maintaining the heritage language in a family.Show less
