Multilingual Mothering: Shifting Emotional Connections to a Heritage Language After the Transition to Motherhood (Matrescence)

Abstract

Aims and Objectives:

The aim of this study is to examine how the transition to motherhood, or “matrescence,” a lifelong evolution featuring complex emotional experiences, changes the emotional connection one has with a heritage language (HL) and to enhance understanding of how those changes are both affected by and affect heritage language maintenance (HLM) and language practices in the family.

Methodology:

This study is part of a narrative inquiry project titled, “Multilingual Mothering,” investigating the lived experiences and emotions of mothers raising multilingual children. The focus is on one open-ended question that was asked as part of a questionnaire. Reflexive thematic analysis within a broadly critical realist position was used to develop, analyse and interpret patterns across the dataset.

Data and Analysis:

Data were collected from 291 mothers residing in linguistically different societies. This paper presents an analysis of responses to a question asking participants how their emotional connection to their HL had changed since becoming mothers. Through reflexive TA, four main themes were identified under a central concept of “Care and Responsibility.”

Findings:

The four themes: Practical, Prominent and (Un)Natural; My Heritage, My Language: Memory and Duty; Expectations and Enough: Letting Go and Coming Together and Acts of Mothering: Re-enacting and Reimagining. The analysis reveals that the shift in connection to an HL after motherhood is not merely an individual or natural progression but is deeply intertwined with numerous experiences and changes.

Originality:

This is the first study the author is aware of that explores how the transition to motherhood may affect a connection to an HL, and how that change affects HLM and family language practices.

Significance/Implications:

Findings provide further evidence for a two-way relationship, whereby the transition to motherhood is both affected by and affects language practices in the family.

Keywords

heritage language language and emotions motherhood raising bilingual children multilingual mothering matrescence heritage language maintenance

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