Saudi Cosmopolitan Transnational Parents’ Ideologies, Language Policy, and their Children Struggle with Homeland Integration

Abstract

This study explored the language ideologies of Saudi cosmopolitan parents living in Western countries, their family language policies, and their children's reintegration into Saudi society. I used a qualitative research design to investigate the process of family language policies and practices and the underlying social, cultural, and religious ideologies. Drawing on the interviews with four Saudi families, and a survey with forty-two Saudi parents, the research investigated how parents perceive and prioritize the use of Arabic and English within their households. It also examined the strategies they employ to maintain Arabic proficiency and cultural ties amidst a predominantly English-speaking environment. The findings revealed a complex interplay between parental aspirations, social pressures, and the linguistic realities faced by their children. The study highlighted the challenges and opportunities in balancing bilingualism by the families and the strategies they used to ease their reintegration into the Saudi homeland. This research contributed to a deeper understanding of the role of language in the transnational experiences of Saudi families and provided insights for educators and policymakers supporting these communities.