‘Our cat has the power’: the polysemy of a third language in maintaining the power/solidarity equilibrium in family interactions

This article examines how power and solidarity in family relations are negotiated along linguistic lines, particular, the role of a third language this negotiation process. It takes as its case study transnational Ireland who practise strongly pro-Polish FLP where parents seen authorities Polish their daughters English, dominant societal language. The paper microinteractional approach to analysing excerpts members engage language-learning activities using Irish, national autochthonous minority demonstrates many ways, Irish operates neutral, space for negotiate power/solidarity alignments, thus contributes family’s maintenance equilibrium. also polysemy inherent these negotiations play out at an interactional level, especially vis-à-vis FLP, well Irish-as-a-language within scope interactions whole.