What Is Family Language Policy?

Abstract

This chapter traces Family Language Policy (FLP) research from its origins in sociolinguistic approaches to child bilingualism and details how examining language input both in terms of quantity and quality has been central to elucidating the fundamental question of why some children attain greater competency in their minority language than others. It also highlights the importance of discussing this question in relation to different contexts, such as language shift situations either involving an immigrant or autochthonous minority language community. The chapter concludes by briefly introducing the ‘Campbell family,’ who are the locus of this particular FLP study and gives a brief background to their minority language (Scottish Gaelic) as well as the area in which they live (Isle of Skye).