TY - JOUR
T1 - Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use
AU - Tran, Van H.
AU - Wang, Cen
AU - McLeod, Sharynne
AU - Verdon, Sarah
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Awards Scholarship awarded to Van H. Tran and an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP180102848) awarded to Sharynne McLeod and Sarah Verdon.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/12/1
Y1 - 2021/12/1
N2 - Aim:To explore Vietnamese–Australian children’s proficiency and use of Vietnamese and English and identify associated factors that are related to demographics, language practices, language ideologies, and language management.Methodology:Vietnamese–Australian parents (n = 151) completed a questionnaire (in English or Vietnamese) regarding their child’s language proficiency and use, demographic details and a range of factors as conceptualized by Spolsky’s language policy theory: language practices; language ideologies; and language management.Data and analysis:Bivariate analyses (Pearson’s correlation and analysis of variance) and multiple regression models were conducted to explore associations between language proficiency and use and associated factors and identify the most significant factors.Findings/conclusions:Factors associated with children’s Vietnamese language proficiency (oral/written) included: demographic factors; language practices; language ideologies; and language management. In contrast, children’s English language proficiency (oral/written) was linked to demographic factors and language practices. Children’s Vietnamese language use was not significantly correlated with demographics but rather with language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Children’s home language use and proficiency did not have a negative impact upon their English proficiency.Originality:This study is the first to consider factors associated with Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use.Significance/implications:Demographic factors, language practices, language ideologies, and language management were associated with children’s language proficiency and use. The results can be used by parents, educators, policy-makers, speech–language pathologists and other professionals to support Vietnamese–Australian and multilingual children around the world to develop and maintain their home and majority languages.
AB - Aim:To explore Vietnamese–Australian children’s proficiency and use of Vietnamese and English and identify associated factors that are related to demographics, language practices, language ideologies, and language management.Methodology:Vietnamese–Australian parents (n = 151) completed a questionnaire (in English or Vietnamese) regarding their child’s language proficiency and use, demographic details and a range of factors as conceptualized by Spolsky’s language policy theory: language practices; language ideologies; and language management.Data and analysis:Bivariate analyses (Pearson’s correlation and analysis of variance) and multiple regression models were conducted to explore associations between language proficiency and use and associated factors and identify the most significant factors.Findings/conclusions:Factors associated with children’s Vietnamese language proficiency (oral/written) included: demographic factors; language practices; language ideologies; and language management. In contrast, children’s English language proficiency (oral/written) was linked to demographic factors and language practices. Children’s Vietnamese language use was not significantly correlated with demographics but rather with language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Children’s home language use and proficiency did not have a negative impact upon their English proficiency.Originality:This study is the first to consider factors associated with Vietnamese–Australian children’s language proficiency and use.Significance/implications:Demographic factors, language practices, language ideologies, and language management were associated with children’s language proficiency and use. The results can be used by parents, educators, policy-makers, speech–language pathologists and other professionals to support Vietnamese–Australian and multilingual children around the world to develop and maintain their home and majority languages.
KW - bilingualism
KW - factors associated with home language maintenance
KW - home language maintenance
KW - language proficiency and use
KW - multilingualism
KW - Vietnamese–Australian children
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U2 - 10.1177/13670069211034587
DO - 10.1177/13670069211034587
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85113657767
SN - 1367-0069
VL - 25
SP - 1735
EP - 1763
JO - International Journal of Bilingualism
JF - International Journal of Bilingualism
IS - 6
ER -
