German as (part of the) family language , Date: 2024.10.30, format: brief analysis, area: Authority , German language usage in parent-child communication in families with migration background from Muslim majority countries

Source: © BAMF

The BAMF Brief Analysis 5|2024 covers the usage of German in parent-child communication in families with migration background from Muslim majority countries.

The family language system of Muslim and non-Muslim parents is compared on the basis of data from the study "Muslim Life in Germany 2020" (MLD 2020). Furthermore, the extent to which German is used in parent-child communication is examined in the context of various underlying parameters. In doing so, migration biography, cultural, social and identification-based factors are taken into account.

Key findings

German is a part of the everyday family life for the majority.

The German language is part of the family language for most of parents with migration back-ground from Muslim majority countries. In the majority of the families, German is (also) spoken with the children, and around half of the parents even speak German regularly with their children.

No differences between Muslim and non-Muslim parents

There are no significant differences in the usage of German in parent-child communication between Muslim and non-Muslim parents. Accordingly, the formal religious affiliation is not related to the structure of the language system in families with migration background from Muslim majority countries.

Parent-child communication is embedded in family language.

The usage of language between parents and children is embedded in the system of the family language: In families where the parents do not speak German with each other, German is less likely to be spoken regularly with the children.

Cultural, social and identification-based aspects facilitate a regular usage of German in parent-child communication.

Whether and to what extent parents with migration background from Muslim majority countries do speak German with their children is linked to various cultural, social and identificatory factors: Good parental German skills, a longer period of residence in Germany, a stronger identification with Germany as the country of origin and frequent contact with people of German origin in the private sphere are positively correlated with a regular usage of German when communicating with the children. Formal religious affiliation, however, does not play a role.

The Brief Analysis was written by: Cristina Gockeln

This download is available in other languages, too.

• Deutsch als (Teil der) Familiensprache (German)