Parental Language Ideologies and Children’s Linguistic Futures in Crosslinguistic Families in Kenya

Abstract

This study examines how parents in crosslinguistic families in Nakuru, Kenya, conceptualise language choices for their children and how these ideologies shape family language practices. Crosslinguistic families, defined as intermarriages between parents from different ethnic backgrounds with distinct heritage languages, are increasingly common in urban Kenya due to internal migration. Language plays a critical role in identity and family dynamics, particularly in such families where multiple languages compete. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with twelve crosslinguistic households and analysed using Family Language Policy (FLP) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) frameworks. The analysis focuses on parental expectations, assumptions, and strategies for language transmission before and after childbirth. Findings indicate that while some parents considered their children's linguistic identities before birth, few implemented explicit planning. Often, children were assumed to align with the father's ethnicity, reflecting patriarchal norms that privileged the father's language. However, in practice, Swahili, the local lingua franca, and English, associated with education and social mobility, dominated family interactions, marginalising heritage languages. This shift reflects local sociolinguistic dynamics and broader discourses of legitimacy and opportunity. The study highlights how ideologies, power, and identity intersect to shape children's linguistic futures in multilingual settings. It advocates for intentional language planning in interethnic families to preserve both parents’ linguistic repertoires, contributing to discussions on family multilingualism and the need to move beyond assumptions to proactive language strategies.