Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ÉRICA PIMENTEL NUNES SILVA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ÉRICA PIMENTEL NUNES SILVA
DATE: 14/07/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Virtual
TITLE:

From parental identity to children's motivation: family language policies
and Portuguese as a heritage language among Brazilian immigrants in the
United States

 

KEY WORDS:

Portuguese as a heritage language; bilingualism; motivation; linguistic identity;
family language policies.

 

PAGES: 55
BIG AREA: Lingüística, Letras e Artes
AREA: Letras
SUMMARY:

This project investigates the role of parental motivation in the maintenance of Portuguese as a
Heritage Language (PHL) among Brazilian immigrant families in the United States.
Grounded in studies on motivation in second language acquisition and in discussions of
identity, investment, and social practice, the study is based on the hypothesis that parental
beliefs, expectations, and investments directly influence family language policies and,
consequently, the intergenerational transmission of Portuguese. Unlike approaches centered
solely on children's linguistic performance, this study proposes to analyze the active role of
parents as agents in the construction of these policies, considering factors such as attitudes
toward bilingualism, language ideologies, and migratory experiences. The study seeks to
understand how Brazilian parents living in the United States perceive the value of Portuguese,
which strategies they use to promote it at home, and how their motivations relate to their
children's engagement with the heritage language. It also investigates tensions between the
use of English and Portuguese in family routines, as well as beliefs and myths surrounding
childhood bilingualism. Data will be generated through an online questionnaire administered
to Brazilian parents, complemented by semi-structured interviews with a subgroup of
participants, including families who have returned to Brazil. The analysis will follow a
mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive statistical treatment of quantitative data with
thematic content analysis of open-ended responses and interviews, within an interpretivist
perspective aimed at identifying recurring patterns in participants' narratives. The study also
examines how individual differences such as length of residence abroad, language proficiency
level, and degree of involvement in community support networks influence family language
practices. It is expected that this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of the
factors that favor or hinder the maintenance of Portuguese as a heritage language, highlighting
the central role of parental motivation in this process.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa à Instituição - ALINE ALVES FONSECA
Externo à Instituição - LUIZ ALEXANDRE MATTOS DO AMARAL
Presidente - CANDIDO SAMUEL FONSECA DE OLIVEIRA
Interna - MARIA RAQUEL DE ANDRADE BAMBIRRA