Family Language Policy and English Linguistic Imperialism:  The Role of Paternal Agency

ABDUL AWAL

doi:10.17576/gema-2026-2603-01

Family Language Policy and English Linguistic Imperialism: The Role of Paternal Agency

ABDUL AWAL

Abstract

This study explores the role of paternal agency on English language maintenance in post-colonial settings by adopting the interdisciplinary framework of family language policy. A qualitative approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews with Bengali fathers from diverse economic, political, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. The findings were examined through reflexive thematic analysis. It aimed to reveal fathers’ roles in children’s language socialisation and their dilemmas in shaping children’s linguistic habitus. The results show that the proactive role fathers in English linguistic imperialism is not from outside, rather as self-colonisation, densely fuelled by digital neo-imperialism of affordance of online engagement as a third-space. Fathers could support children’s English learning effectively only when they had adequate resources; without such resources, their aspirations often remained difficult to translate into management and practice. The findings also showed a shift from maintaining a strict separation between English and other languages towards creating more fluid opportunities for language practice. The result confirms previous studies that home-based English use increasingly functions as a marker of class status, modernity, and social distinction, while local language(s) may be perceived by some elite families as less prestigious. This study foregrounds fathers as active FLP actors and advocates equitable multilingualism that balances English aspirations in families.

Keywords: English linguistic imperialism; family language policy; language socialisation; paternal agency; postcolonial language hierarchies

Kajian ini meneroka peranan bapa dalam mengekalkan bahasa Inggeris dalam persekitaran pasca kolonial dengan mengguna pakai rangka kerja antara disiplin dasar bahasa keluarga. Menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, temu bual separa berstruktur dengan bapa-bapa berketurunan Bengali daripada pelbagai latar belakang ekonomi, politik, budaya, dan bahasa telah dijalankan. Data telah dikaji melalui analisis tematik refleksif untuk mendedahkan peranan bapa dalam sosialisasi bahasa kanak-kanak dan dilema mereka dalam membentuk tabiat linguistik kanak-kanak. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa peranan proaktif bapa dalam imperialisme linguistik bahasa Inggeris bukanlah dari pengaruh luar; sebaliknya sebagai satu bentuk penjajahan diri, yang didorong oleh neo-imperialisme digital yang rancak berlaku dalam persekitaran di luar rumah (ruang ketiga). Bapa boleh menyokong pembelajaran bahasa Inggeris anak-anak dengan berkesan hanya apabila mereka mempunyai sumber yang mencukupi; tanpa sumber sedemikian, aspirasi mereka selalunya sukar untuk diterjemahkan ke dalam pengurusan dan amalan. Dapatan juga menunjukkan peralihan daripada mengekalkan pemisahan yang ketat antara bahasa Inggeris dan bahasa lain ke arah mewujudkan lebih banyak peluang yang lancar untuk latihan bahasa. Hasil kajian ini mengesahkan kajian terdahulu bahawa penggunaan bahasa Inggeris di rumah semakin berfungsi sebagai penanda status kelas, kemodenan, dan perbezaan sosial, manakala bahasa tempatan mungkin dianggap oleh sesetengah keluarga elit sebagai kurang berprestij. Kajian ini menggariskan bapa sebagai pemain dasar bahasa keluarga yang aktif dan menyokong kesaksamaan berbilang bahasa yang mengimbangi aspirasi bahasa Inggeris dalam keluarga.

Kata Kunci: Imperialisme linguistik bahasa Inggeris; dasar bahasa keluarga; sosialisasi bahasa; agensi bapa; hierarki bahasa pascakolonial

Keywords

English linguistic imperialism; family language policy; language socialisation; paternal agency; postcolonial language hierarchies

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/gema-2026-2603-01