This book presents the forefront of research in the emerging field of family language policy. This is the first volume to explore the link between family language policy, practice and management in the light of state and community language policy in more than 20 ethno-linguistic communities worldwide. Contributions by leading scholars from eight countries and three continents offer insights in how family language policy might be interpreted from various theoretical perspectives, using innovative methodologies. In particular, the authors present novel data on successful family language practices such as faith-related literacy activities and homework sessions, as well as management, including prayer, choice of bilingual education, and links with mainstream and complementary learning, which permit the realization of language ideology within three contexts: immigrant families, inter-marriage families, and minority and majority families in conflict-ridden societies.

“Successful Family Language Policy pays testimony to the recent upsurge in interest in the area of family language policy (FLP), also referred to as family language management. … This compilation is an important first step in a process of between-context comparison which will allow for important questions to be addressed … .” (Francesca Walls, Bellaterra Journal of Teaching & Learning Language & Literatures, Vol. 8 (4), November-December, 2015)