Exploring the complexity of linguistic minority students’ use of and attitudes toward everyday translanguaging practices

Abstract

This article examines Teochew-speaking learners of English as an example of linguistic minority students’ use of and attitudes toward everyday translanguaging practices. By conducting a series of semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study specifically examines students’ translanguaging process with their mother tongue – Teochew (L1), as well as Putonghua (L2), and other languages/dialects in various contexts, such as family, school, and the wider community. The findings indicate the various translanguaging practices but also reveal a decline and marginalization in Teochew across different generations. This paper argues for the need to preserve Teochew and other heritage languages and home dialects for inclusiveness of language practice. Moreover, translanguaging practices should also be viewed as key in readdressing issues such as power and identity in daily language use, and their importance must be recognized for educational purposes.