Children acquire language through constant and reciprocal interactions with people in their daily environment. Among these people, primary caregivers have the most direct influence. Effective language stimulation techniques have been widely researched in English-speaking countries, primarily focusing on monolingual populations. However, little is known about the types of activities, forms of participation, and language models provided for children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. In Australia, around 23% of preschoolers experience difficulties with language development, many of whom come from CALD backgrounds. They often form part of the caseloads of speech language pathologists (SLPs). While the adoption of a holistic, evidence-based practice (EBP) approach in speech pathology is endorsed, effective implementation with CALD families presents challenges for SLPs. This study offers detailed insights into Chinese parents’ linguistic behaviours, interaction styles, and topic choices when conversing with their preschool-aged children.

In this study, four Chinese-speaking mothers of children aged three to five years and two English-Chinese bilingual SLPs participated in semi-structured interviews conducted in Chinese and English respectively. Data were video recorded, transcribed and analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Four key themes regarding Chinese parents as communication partners and language role models were generated. These themes can be broadly summarised through the following categories: parent-child interaction patterns, methods to promote language and cognitive development, play as a context for communicative participation, and repair of communication breakdown. The findings offer guidance for developing culturally responsive recommendations on language facilitation for CALD families with children who are at risk or have been diagnosed with a language disorder.

Keywords: caregiver language input; Chinese families; family-centred practice; culturally responsive practice; language facilitation.

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