Language choices in parent-child interactions in Maghreb and Turkish immigrant families, a study in five European countries

This paper explores the language choices immigrant parents make at home while interacting with their children. A myriad of factors are potentially involved in immigrant parents’ choices for the use of the heritage language (L1) or the majority language (L2). This study examines the interplay between parents’ own acculturation preferences, religiosity and language skills, possible differences between the Turkish and Maghreb immigrant groups, and the normative monolingual pressure in the wider national context. Focusing on immigrant parents with a Turkish (n = 878) background in England, Germany, and the Netherlands, and parents with a Maghreb background (n = 866) in France, Italy and the Netherlands, we analysed multiple group comparison models. The results showed large variation in parents’ language choices, both between immigrant groups and between countries. Yet, similar mechanisms were found to underlie parents’ language choices across groups and countries. Overall, we found that parents’ language choice was strongest related to their self-reported language proficiency, rather than sociocultural factors. For the Maghreb groups only, we found some relations with religiosity, acculturation preferences and background characteristics, though parents’ language proficiency remained the strongest predictor. Recommendations for integration policies are discussed in light of these findings.