ABSTRACT
According to their circumstances, a family will develop a system regulating the use of the two languages with which they live. When the circumstances change in some way, the system must be flexible enough to meet the requirements made of it. When a mixed language couple first meet they will decide actively, or by default, which language to speak. As time goes on, that decision might need revising; perhaps another solution becomes more appropriate when a child is born, or when the child needs help with majority language homework. A divorce, moving to another country or the arrival of a new member of the family (maybe granny moves in) might require changes in the family’s language set-up. A family which has chosen for both parents to use the minority language at home might want to reconsider this decision if they move to a country where that language is the majority language. Then the former majority language needs a place in which it is spoken if it is to be kept alive. Of course, if neither parent is a native speaker of that language they may have no need or wish to keep up their own or their children’s skills in the language.
