Officiality and strategic ambiguity in language policy: exploring migrant experiences in Andorra and Luxembourg

Abstract This article examines de jure language officialization policies in Andorra and Luxembourg, addresses how these are discursively reproduced, sustained or challenged by members of resident migrant communities the two countries. Although countries bear similarities their small size, extensive multilingualism pride place accorded to ‘small’ languages Catalan Luxembourgish respectively, they have adopted different strategies as regards according official status spoken there. We start undertaking a close reading policy documents highlight ways that informed ‘strategic ambiguity’, wherein certain key elements deliberately left open interpretation via range textual strategies. then conduct thematic analysis individual speaker testimonies understand this strategic ambiguity impacts on speakers negotiate fluid multilingual practices while also having navigate rigid monolingual regimes. In given contexts, hierarchies privilege particularly relation regimentation migrants' linguistic behaviour. way, paper provides insights into complex ideological fields which situated demonstrates is intertwined with issues power dominance.