This paper presents a linguistic ethnographic study focusing on an Iranian lifestyle migrant family living in Istanbul. Data from microethnographic analyses will report on the family’s linguistic practices in Persian, Turkish, and English and how they approach language policy in a domestic setting.
The aim of this paper is to focus on the effect of parental agency in maintaining a multilingual household in the context of Iranian migrants residing in Turkey. As part of the project "Contemporary Linguistic Diversity in Istanbul," this paper turns the gaze into an under-studied constellation of languages by focusing on the linguistic practices of one Iranian lifestyle migrant family living in Istanbul.
Iranians' migration to Turkey dates back to 1980s, following the Iranian Revolution in 1979; with many educated, middle class Iranians acquiring Turkish nationality or residence permit and settling in Istanbul (Danış, Pérouse & Taraghi, 2007). In recent years, however, a new group of Iranians have been added to this picture, namely, those who have started living in large cities such as Izmir and Istanbul for a more liberal lifestyle.
Focusing on one such family from Iran living in Istanbul, this paper will present preliminary findings of our year-long project drawing on data from observations, interviews, and audio-recordings. The paper aims to analyze the significance of the home environment and parental agency in language learning and maintenance for the family's first, second, and foreign languages; respectively Persian, Turkish, and English. By focusing on the parents' and the child's approach and beliefs about these languages, this paper demonstrates how family members negotiate the maintenance of these languages and how parental agency plays a role in the shaping of the immigrant children's linguistic practices.
REFERENCES
Danış, D., Pérouse, J. F., & Taraghi, C. (2006). Integration in limbo. Iraqi, Afghan, Maghberi and Iranian Migrants in Istanbul.
