Plurilingual parenting: why many experts think families who speak multiple languages should just go with the flow

We live in what anthropologist Steven Vertovec calls “super diverse” societies. As more and more people move around, they bring their cultures and languages.

In the UK, 20 % of children are bilingual. They are multilingual if they speak more than one language.

Of course, parents have a lot to do to keep their children safe, fed, and educated. If you have multiple languages within your family, then there are also decisions to make about how to navigate this terrain.

A new approach has emerged to the concept of multilingual parenting. This is due to a growing appreciation of super-diverse cultures’ linguistic and cultural complexity. What is known as plurilingualism, it views language usage as fluid and dynamic.

Historically, theories on language learning in households with multiple languages have advocated strict rules. The one-language-one-parent policy sees each parent only speak their first language to the child to avoid confusion. Some immigrant parents decide only to speak their language of heritage at home while learning the local language at school.

A multilingual strategy, on the other hand, can bring a sense of relief. You can go with the flow. You can use different languages to suit different situations.

A multilingual approach aims to help students develop their linguistic and cultural awareness. Rawpixel.com | Shutterstock

Celebrate linguistic diversity

We know the importance of multilingualism for both academic success and the well-being of multilingual learners.

In order to better understand this, I conducted a study in 2018 of 20 parents who had immigrated to Canada from nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe. I discovered that they adopted a truly multilingual parenting style.

Parents I spoke with believe fluid, dynamic, and flexible use is essential in their families. Most parents send their children into French Immersion programs where they are taught in English and French. Parents accept that their child’s French language proficiency is unlikely to match his or her English language ability.

Parents and children change languages daily. Parents and children switch between languages daily. The children must switch to their native language when grandparents from Europe visit. If a friend is coming over to play, the children will choose English.

A liberal policy on language is essential to multilingual parenting. Parents are not inclined to punish their children if they speak the “wrong language” at home. Even parents who were strict at the time their children were born quickly realized that they had to switch back and forth between languages. Parents are okay with it.

The interconnectedness of language and culture is a final principle that parents should consider when plurilingual parenting. Immigrant parents cross borders, and they also bring their culture along with them. Immigrant parents discuss this issue regularly in their homes. Language is essential for belonging.

Parents are aware of the importance of their heritage language. Shutterstock

Even if the children consider themselves Canadian, speaking Bulgarian in Canada will help them feel connected to their country. Parents should be encouraged to maintain their native language and to communicate that importance to their kids. One Ukrainian parent stated:

This is our past; this is what we are proud of.

Openness to learning languages

You may have heard the myth that two languages in a family can confuse children, delay their language development, and negatively affect school performance. Researchers have spent decades dispelling myths.

Research has shown that bilingualism can also have cognitive benefits. Has warned in various bilingual parenting approaches against mixing or introducing new language too early. The standard advice is that the child only learns from native speakers to achieve a perfect accent and impeccable grammar.

When parents try to “police the language usage of their children” but are often met with resistance, these rules can bring conflict to family life.

Multilingualism is based on a different understanding of how languages are used. It emphasizes a more flexible approach to teaching students, especially in the English language area.

This school of thought is open to all languages a student can use, no matter how different. This approach aims to improve their linguistic knowledge, cultural awareness, and openness to learning new languages while improving their target language.

In line with other studies on multilingual learners in previous years, all students in my study did well in school, whether English immersion, bilingual French immersion, or international baccalaureate. There are no adverse effects to maintaining one’s native language and culture. This flexible family language policy saves parents and children from many arguments.