“Then I know Hmong then that way I can eavesdrop on mommy and daddy”: Children’s agency in the heritage language in family language policy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Framed by family language policy and children’s agency, this multiple case study investigates two Hmong American children’s conceptualization of Hmong and the strategies they develop and utilize in their home. Interviews, artifacts, recorded interactions, and video recorded sessions were collected to gain an understanding of how the children viewed and valued Hmong. The findings reveal that while both children understood Hmong as a family language, they differed in their conceptualization of the utility of Hmong, creating their own investment in the heritage language that drove their practices. Importantly, as they negotiate their respective FLPs, they also influence their younger sibling’s heritage language investment and practices.