Exploring the language practices of parents and caregivers in raising bilingual children: A systematic literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss2pp90-109Abstract
Background and Purpose: Parental language practices are instrumental in shaping early bilingual language development in children. However, not all the practices that parents and caregivers adopt have been successful in developing the language of their children, particularly in developing them as bilingual children. Therefore, this systematic literature review aims to investigate parental language strategies and home language practices in terms of their effectiveness in raising their children as bilinguals.
Methodology: Guided by the PRISMA protocol, ten relevant studies published between 2014 and 2026 were selected from five major academic databases, namely, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The analysis focuses on children aged 2 to 6 years, examining parental input in home settings and its implications for balanced language exposure.
Findings: Findings indicate that early and consistent language exposure provided by the parents and caregivers have positive effects on bilingual proficiency and language differentiation among children. However, the review reveals an absence of studies on Malay-English bilingual children in Malaysia, underscoring a significant gap in culturally diverse bilingual research.
Contributions: Notably, the review identifies a gap in research on family language policy (FLP) within bilingual Southeast Asian contexts. This highlights the need for localized studies that reflect unique sociocultural dynamics, such as those found in Malay-English bilingual households in Malaysia.
Keywords: Language practices, bilingual children, children’s language development, parental language input, Malay-English bilingual children.
Cite as: Mahmud, F. N., & Salehuddin, K. (2026). Exploring the language practices of parents and caregivers in raising bilingual children: A systematic literature review. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(2), 90-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss2pp90-109
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