‘Ōlē bābālē!!!’: exploring emotions and digital language practices in family language policy among Bengali transnational families: a multimodal approach

Aims and objectives: This study explores the role of emotions in heritage language (HL) practice within the context of networked family language policy (nFLP) among multilingual, transnational families through digital communication using multimodal (inter)action analysis (MIA). Methodology: The study employs a case study methodological approach involving Sigrid Norris’s MIA tools to understand how emotions are expressed and shared within multimodal digital interactions and how these interactions shape HL practice in transnational families. Data and analysis: The following data were collected from three Bengali immigrant families in Australia employing (1) participant-led video recordings of online conversations between the child and the grandparent, (2) screenshots of online chats, and (3) semi-structured interview data to support the video and screenshot data. Findings/conclusions: The results show that emotional factors, such as emotional contagion and digitally mediated affective communication, drive modally rich HL practice. Family bonding with transnational grandparents, shaped by these emotional factors, was found to be the primary goal of digital HL communication practice, while HL maintenance was secondary. Originality: This research provides a nuanced and fine-grained analysis of emotional factors in HL practice with transnational grandparents through digital media using a unique toolset (MIA). Significance/implications: This research promotes the significant role of emotional factors in HL practice when it comes to using digital communication among immigrant transnational families.