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Digitally mediated code-switching in transnational families in Australia:

Fathers and children

Article in New Media & Society · May 2023

DOI: 10.1177/14614448231174518

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Piotr Romanowski
University of Warsaw
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research-article2023
NMS0010.1177/14614448231174518new media & societyRomanowski

Article

new media & society

Digitally mediated code-

1–22
© The Author(s) 2023
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switching in transnational sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/14614448231174518
https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448231174518
families in Australia: Fathers journals.sagepub.com/home/nms

and children

Piotr Romanowski
University of Warsaw, Poland

Abstract
The article focuses on Polish-speaking families residing in Australia and their digitally
mediated communication practices. Against the backdrop of social changes influencing
family roles, a new father–child relationship characterised by presence and active
involvement in a child’s life has recently transpired. As the fathers’ role in minority
language transmission has not been given much prominence in research, this article offers
novel insights into how Polish fathers endeavour to maintain Polish through digitally
mediated communication. Research on digital practices in the context of code-switching
(CS) has been scant, despite the fact that everyday reality of transnational multilingual
families has been permeated by technology. With this article, I aim to touch upon the
themes situated at the intersection of transnationalism, family multilingualism, language
transmission, as well as new media and their role in contemporary communication
practices. Six excerpts containing examples of CS practices among three different
families, where instant messaging via Messenger has been adopted to maintain Polish
will be scrutinised.

Keywords
Australia, code-switching, diaspora, digitally mediated communication, Polish,
transnational families

Corresponding author:
Piotr Romanowski, Faculty of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw, Dobra 55, 00-312 Warsaw, Poland.
Email: p.romanowski3@uw.edu.pl

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