管我们是因为爱我们 To Guan Us Is to Love Us: Understanding Guan Through Adolescent Perceptions

ABSTRACT This paper investigates how children interpret the practice of guan (Chinese parenting) within the home and its relationship to family language policy (FLP). The study involved nine adolescent participants from six families. Using a written reflective task, the study explores the attitudes of adolescents towards the practice of guan and its effectiveness in the development and maintenance of the heritage language (HL). Data were collected as part of a larger research project investigating multilingualism among Chinese families in Ireland. The findings show that adolescents view parental guan as necessary and effective in HL development through parental encouragement, parental support and parental investment. The article responds to the linguistic and demographic changes in Irish society and makes an important contribution to knowledge about cultural practices, which may support the multilingual development of children in transnational families. Its focus on families in rural Ireland provides scope to develop the HL in the absence of large communities and language schools. Critically, the article expands on current scholarly discussions surrounding adolescents, identity, belief and agency within the field of FLP, by shedding light on how adolescents interpret parenting practices and cultural concepts and perceive complex bilingual and bicultural family structures.