Translanguaging as parental discourse strategies: language socialisation in multilingual South Asian families in Hong Kong

Using a translanguaging lens, this qualitative study explored the micro-linguistic home language practices of multilingual South Asian families in Hong Kong. Our interview data revealed that all South Asian parents adopt a pragmatic view of language, recognising Chinese and English as valuable communicative and socio-economic resources, while some also uphold multilingualism, encouraging their children to maintain heritage language(s). A discourse analysis of naturally occurring conversations between parents and children identified a toolkit of translanguaging-based strategies used to: (a) scaffold the learning of local languages, often resulting in bidirectional learning; (b) maintain heritage languages and identities; and (c) construct home as a safe translingual space by managing fluid language use both explicitly and implicitly. Overall, we identified translanguaging-based strategies as functioning not as restrictive corrections but as cor invitational and supportive practices that create a dynamic, multilingual learning space. Theoretically, this study enriches the understanding of parental discourse strategies within multilingual families, the number of which is increasing along with globalisation. Practically, the findings highlight the challenges parents face due to their own limited proficiency and advocate for greater external support.