Between identity and survival: heritage language ideologies among self-employed Chinese immigrant families in Catalonia

This study examines how Chinese immigrant parents in Catalonia, Spain negotiate heritage language (HL) ideologies. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with parents from nine self-employed families, it identifies three coexisting ideological orientations: HL as essence, capital, and ties. These orientations are shaped through a process of survival-oriented negotiation, involving the dynamic interplay of structural constraints, cognitive restructuring, and defensive responses to marginalisation and uncertainty. The study demonstrates that for self-employed immigrant families, HL maintenance is often a necessity rather than an elective cultural choice, thereby supporting a more class-conscious and contextually grounded understanding of family language policy.