Language Brokering Affects Bilingual Children Parents’ Acculturation Processes in South Texas
MA. Julien Ekiaka-Oblazamengo, M.Ed. Mónica Rosalina Medina-Jiménez, Dr. Valentin Ekiaka Nzai

Abstract
Many bilingual children translate for their parents or relatives in a wide range of contexts (Baker, 2006; Corona et al, 2012; De Jong, 2011). In fact, language brokering plays an important role in the acculturation process of bilingual children. However, this practice has been negatively viewed by advocates of fractional perspective of bilingualism (De Jong, 2011). Most studies (Corona et al, 2012; De Jong, 2011 & Orellana, 2009) have focused on the child-broker. Few projects have explored this topic targeting bilingual children’s parents (Kam, 2011).The purpose of this narrative research consists of exploring how language brokering practices affect bilingual children’s parents acculturation processes through the examination of the following research question: to what extent language brokering practices impact bilingual children parents’ acculturation processes in a subtractive bilingualism setting? As a sample of six parents agreed to participate in the data collection process using the Ginsburg approach. Findings suggest not only conditions under which language brokering practices are positively appreciated, but also significant impact on parental acculturation processes.

Full Text: PDF