Communication Dynamics of the Transnational Family

Abstract

This study explores how Turkish transnational families use communication technology to maintain connections across oceans. Its findings are drawn from a larger study that examined how transnational families maintain intergenerational relationships over distance and time. A grounded theory approach was used to conduct and analyze interviews with 30 Turkish immigrants living in the Midwest region of the United States. Results pertaining to the use of communication technology demonstrate that Turkish transnational families use a variety of communication strategies to maintain family relations. Specifically, they indicate that (1) telephone calls are crucial in facilitating communication; (2) e-mail facilitates communication, particularly between the younger generations; and (3) web-cams are used relatively infrequently. Each of these themes is discussed, and implications for future research are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• communication technology
• interpersonal communication
• transnational families
• Turkish immigrants

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the Turkish immigrants who participated in this study. Their willingness to share their stories made this research possible. The first author also thanks the Graduate School at the University of Minnesota for helping to partially fund her dissertation research through a Block Grant Fellowship.