Mind the net! Unpacking the contributions of social network science for heritage and Bilingualism research

Abstract

While heritage language (HL) research initially spun off the larger field of first and second language acquisition, it soon became its own field of study. The last two decades have seen an increase in the depth and breadth of HL research, yet due to its relationship to the larger field of language acquisition, it has long relied on the methodologies and paradigms of this research area. Current advances in the field of bilingualism suggest that alternative methods could help answer specific HL research questions by identifying the multiplicity of profiles that encompass HL speakers. This manuscript examines the use of Personal Social Network Science for the field of HL bilingualism and outlines ways in which this methodology can help answer questions about the variability in the speakers’ backgrounds and experiences and how they relate to linguistic outcomes.