Family language policy in a minority context: the case of Pomak-speaking families in Thrace, Greece

The Pomaks of Thrace (Greece) are members of the (officially recognized as) Muslim Minority of Greek/ Western Thrace while the Pomak language stands under the “pressure” of two other dominant languages: Turkish, which is the language of the largest and more powerful part of the Muslim Minority in Thrace, and Greek, which is the language of the State of which they are citizens. This study examines family language policy within three Pomak-speaking families residing in the Xanthi region (Thrace, Greece), focusing on the influential role that geographical and sociocultural contexts play in shaping these language practices and building on Spolsky’s theoretical Family Language Model (language practices, language management, and language ideologies). The research was conducted through interviews with three families (four participants) and through participant observation within the family environment of these three households. The data demonstrate differences in language use between the two dominant minority languages (Greek and Turkish) and highlight the factors that continue to shape Pomak collective identity, which in turn influences the language choices and ideologies of Pomak-speaking members of the minority.