A Comparison of the Family Language Policies of the First and Second-Generation Turks Living in Germany

Abstract

Adopting a mixed-method approach, this article investigated the differences in the family language policies of the first and second-generation Turks living in Germany under the categories of language ideologies, language practices, and language management as defined by Spolsky (2004). One hundred and two parents (54 first-generation and 48 second-generation) constituted the sample of the study. The findings indicated that both generations desire their children to be bilingual Turkish-German speakers but they differ in terms of their ideas concerning the onset of bilingualism. Starting school has an undeniable and formative role in the language choice of not only the children starting school but also their younger siblings highlighting the children’s agentive role in language use in the families. Furthermore, while both generations think that maintaining Turkish means the maintenance of Turkish identity, culture, and religion; concerns for children’s educational trajectories lead second-generation parents to prioritize German in their family language policies. Finally, no significant difference has been found concerning the language management activities of both generations. © 2025 Hacettepe University. All rights reserved.