Language brokering as young people's work: evidence from Chinese adolescents in England

Hall, Nigel and Sham, Sylvia (2007) Language brokering as young people's work: evidence from Chinese adolescents in England. Language and Education, 27 (1). pp. 16-30. ISSN 0950-0782

File not available for download.

Abstract

Language brokering describes the task in an intercultural language event undertaken by children in families with one or two non-national languaged parents or caregivers. This paper examines the complex issues involved in being a language broker and explores these as they apply to a group of adolescents in Chinese families in the UK. The findings show that for these children the language brokering activities they undertake are not only complex and demanding, but make a significant economic contribution to family life.