The effect of family composition on family language policy of Turkish heritage speakers in Flanders/Belgium

This study explores the effect of different family compositions formed as a result of marriage patterns in today's Turkish immigrant community in Flanders on family language policies. Based on in-depth interviews with 26 families, grouped in three different family compositions (mixed-marriages, local intra-ethnic marriages and marriages through partner migration), the findings indicate that family composition itself is a main resource in families' language policy implementations. Each family type has its own strengths and weaknesses. The resources that families have are realised through these strengths and weaknesses which are related to family language practices. Results also show the active participating role of children's family language policy implementations and parents' increasing awareness of the role of family in their children's bilingual language development planning