Language Socialization in Korean Transnational Communities

Abstract

Language socialization (LS) in transnational communities involves complexity and multiplicity in terms of languages, ideologies, identities, and sociocultural norms including the dynamic notions of community and competence. The recent trend in transnational migration by Korean families with school-age children for English acquisition has been largely motivated by globalization and language ideologies of English in Korea. Recent LS studies reflect this new face of Korean transnationalism, bringing a broader perspective that goes beyond the micro, interactional aspects of Korean language learning and cultural understanding. The new areas include transnational youth’s LS practices and their projected cosmopolitan identity, the role of English acquisition in families’ class maintenance and distinction, and LS and language ideologies of capital. Exploring these various aspects of Korean, English, and bilingual language socialization practices in Korean transnational communities, this chapter discusses what it means to be competent in transnational spaces.