Endangered languages in the home: The role of family language policies in the revitalisation of indigenous languages

Abstract

Developed as the result of two invited lectures as part of a postgraduate course in Language Revitalisation at UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), the current article explores the significance of the home domain for the maintenance and revitalisation of minority languages, specifically focusing on the role played by family language policies in supporting the process of intergenerational transmission of language. Beginning with a general overview of recent theoretical developments in the language planning and policy (LPP) field, the article highlights some of the opportunities that emerging conceptual trends can offer for indigenous language revitalisation inquiry and practice. Through a discussion of theory and research associated with a Family Language Policy (FLP) framework, we will highlight some of advantages of this approach in exploring both micro and macro language management processes (and the complex relationships between them) as determining factors for language maintenance and shift.