Environmental Approach to language Situations and Bilingual Development of Children in Heteroethnic Families: A Comparative Study of Russia and the Arabian Gulf Countries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36586/Keywords:
heteroethnic family, language situation, bilingualism, environmental approach, Russian as a heritage languageAbstract
The increasing mobility of the population makes the study of language situations in heteroethnic families a critical focus for modern pedagogy and sociolinguistics. This study aims to identify specific linguistic dynamic situations in heteroethnic families in Russia and the Arabian Gulf and to evaluate the potential of the environmental approach for children's upbringing and their bilingual development. The study's novelty lies in adapting Manuilov’s 'environmental approach' to the specific socio-cultural dynamics of heteroethnic families in the Arabian Gulf, a context previously unexplored in this theoretical framework. The research employs a theoretical and descriptive approach, including a comparative analysis of sociolinguistic models and a review of pedagogical theories regarding the role of the environment in personality formation. The study identifies and classifies key language practice models – 'one parent, one language' (OPOL), 'minority language at home' (MLH), and 'common family language' (CFL) – within the context of regional language policies. It highlights how dominant environments can create 'bifurcation points' where bilingualism may weaken without active support. The study concluded that the environmental approach offers a flexible framework for developing a bilingual personality by transforming the family setting into a tool for language acquisition. Recommendations focus on the conscious organization of 'places of behavior' to optimize children's language growth.
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