Language as a marker of cultural identity and commodification: The language socialization practices of multilingual, Latina/Mexican American mothers

Abstract

ABSTRACT This comparative multi-case study investigated the language ideologies of six Latina/Mexican American mothers raising emergent bilingual children. Qualitative data analysis of mother interviews revealed important commonalities in multilingual parenting ideologies and family language socialization practices. The results demonstrate how the mothers tie language to cultural identity and to potential future economic success. These ideologies demonstrated how the mothers view language and how they worked against surrounding English-only, monolingual attitudes that threaten their children’s ability to maintain their home language.