Practiced Language Policy in Family Language Policy Research

This chapter examines the concept of ‘practiced language policy’ in the context of the sociolinguistic subfield of ‘Family Language Policy’ (FLP). This chapter centres on four main aspects of practiced language policy vis-à-vis FLP: first, how caregivers construct FLPs through language practices; how children re-negotiate FLPs through their own language practices; how language practices between siblings specifically contribute to re-shaping FLPs; and finally, the creative and affective re-negotiations of certain linguistic norms through language practices over time. This chapter illustrates how ‘practiced language policy’ is a valuable way to conceptualise the co-agentive and dynamic nature of FLP, namely, how caregivers and children take turns in filling the opposing roles of what (Spolsky, Language Policy 18:323–338, 2019), p. 335) terms ‘advocates without power and managers with authority.’