Translanguaging in preschools: evidence from Polish-English bilingual children

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study draws on the theoretical framework of translanguaging and seeks to shed light on the patterns of translanguaging and how translanguaging affects meaning-making processes among bilingual children in preschool. This case study focuses on 8 months of observation and recordings of pupils ranging in age from 3 to 6 years. The gathered speech samples of 200 hours of verbal recording provide information on bilingual children’s linguistic repertoire, their reasons for translanguaging, and the way pupils achieve comprehension through strategic usage of the two languages. The data highlights translanguaging as a practice that maximizes meaning-making ability among young children.