Unpacking family language policy through autoethnography: Insights from a transnational Arabic-speaking family in the United States

Abstract

Aims and objectives: Adopting an autoethnography research framework, this study draws upon insider insights into family life to investigate the language policy of Arabic-speaking Saudi families in the United States. This approach contributes to family language policy (FLP) scholarship. Leveraging the well-established tradition of autoethnography in sociolinguistic studies, the study examines language socialization within a transnational family and the resulting changes in their FLP. Methodology: This study adopted Spolsky’s framework of language policy, which consists of ideology, management, and planning. Due to the amount and variation of data, analytical induction was used because it identifies recurring patterns and develops initial insights by examining similarities between phenomena. This method also offers analytical lenses for studying personal experiences and social interactions. Data collection and analysis: The data presented in this research were obtained from a larger corpus set obtained during a primary longitudinal study that examined language socialization processes within an Arabic Muslim family temporarily residing in a Western context for a period of 3 years. However, for the purpose of this autoethnographic study, the data analysis was limited to a 2-year period because this analytical method examines broad categories of understanding and then creates sub-categories. Fieldnotes, journals, and recordings were logged and coded to find important patterns. Findings: This study shows autoethnography as a useful approach to greater access to an Arabic-speaking Muslim family living in the United States. It also revealed aspects related to internal conflict and the different views parents can have about raising a bilingual child. The role of contextual factors in impacting FLP is also explained. By considering the broader social and cultural influences on language policy, the study showcased the complex interplay between macro-level factors and micro-level family dynamics. Originality: This study is the one of the rare studies that highlights the autoethnographic approach to FLP with relation to Arabophone Muslim families living in the United States. Also, the study demonstrates the value of the autoethnographic approach to FLP, as it helps to explore insider perspectives to understand the dynamic nature of FLP, the contextual factors influencing it, and how families construct meaning through their language use. Significance: This study lays the groundwork for future sociolinguists interested in FLP research to delve deeper into family language dynamics and explore how children navigate their parents’ language policies through the use of autoethnography approaches.