Children's agency in parent-child discourses: A study of family language policy in a Ndebele heritage language family

This study investigated how children assert agency in parent–child interactions. The inquiry was conducted through a linguistic ethnography of the Ndlovu family, an indigenous Ndebele heritage language family living Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. shows Suku and Thabo, two focal influenced policy contradictory practices by conformist Thabo. researcher interviews with parents to establish their ideologies preferences. Parent–child conversations were recorded during eight visits researcher. Analysis reveal Suku, older girl child participated resistant her preference for English-centred parent-child interactions, defying parents’ explicitly articulated pro-Ndebele policy. younger child, asserted participating reciprocating his Ndebele-centred practices. These are attempts enact policy, sometimes resulting revising original dispositions towards use at home. As result, did not take visible management steps correct children’s choices. concludes that innocent but instead, reproduce experiences extra-familial spaces. Therefore, is combination familial