Ethnolinguistic vitality during a period of decolonization without independence: perceived vitality in Hong Kong

Pierson, Herbert D.

doi:10.1515/ijsl.1994.108.43

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…While I do not have the answer to that one, I wish to suggest that no "universal" concept of identity, especially one conceived in the context of less overtly heteroglossic societies, is likely to get us very far in understanding the Situation in Hong Kong. This is one basic problem with research on language attitudes in Hong Kong, including that by Pierson (1994) on "ethnolinguistic vitality," which -quelle surprise -turned up a confusing pattern. The subjects, all undergraduates at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, perceived Hong Kong identity äs more important than Chinese identity, yet also thought that English and Putonghua will be stronger than Cantonese in the future Hong Kong.…”

Section: The Hong Kong Heteroglossiamentioning

confidence: 99%

The tao of identity in heteroglossic Hong Kong

Joseph

2000

International Journal of the Sociology of Language

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Discussions oflanguage and identity in Hong Kong havefollowed a regulär pattern of trying to determine which one from among a small ränge of sociolinguistic identities is most likely to emerge äs definitive öfter 1997. The two principal candidates are usually a Chinese identity grounded in Putonghua, and a Hong Kong identity grounded in Cantonese. Secondary to these is an international identity grounded in English. Some analysts have ventured strong predictions that one or the other of these language-identity nexuses may be lost entirely. Others assume that a Hong Kong identity grounded in Cantonese will dominate, with Putonghua and English serving merely äs auxiliary languagesfor dealing with the central government and the international business Community respectively. The present article inquires into some ofthe assumptions underlying these discussions that may bear rethinking. Recent work on the whole notion of "Chinese" identity suggests that sociolinguistic studies may not have taken account of its füll complexity. Indeed, the concept of "identity" itselfmay need to be rethought in the context of post-1997 Hong Kong. Two modes for reconceiving it will be considered, one based on the Western idea ofambiguity, the other on the Daoist ideal of transcending oppositions. The Hong Kong language Situation, including the relevant constitutional positions on language, is surveyed, and an attempt is made at characterizing it within a Bakhtinian model of heteroglossia. (Formerly) fragrant (vanishing) harborThe island of Hong Kong (Cantonese heung gong, Putonghua xiang gang 'fragrant harbor') has given its name to the colony of which it is the administrative and economic center, and which includes 235 other islands in addition to a small chunk of the south China mainland.

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Section: The Hong Kong Heteroglossiamentioning

confidence: 99%

The tao of identity in heteroglossic Hong Kong

Joseph

2000

International Journal of the Sociology of Language

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“…Hong Kong was a British colony for 155 years until its sovereignty returned to China in 1997. Before the return of sovereignty, English was used as the medium of instruction during secondary schooling (Pierson, 1994). Since then, most secondary schools have adopted 'mother tongue' instruction in HKC, although English continues to be used as the medium of instruction in about twenty percent of secondary schools (Lai, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural background influences the liminal perception of Chinese characters: An ERP study

Peng¹,

Minett²,

Wang³

2010

Journal of Neurolinguistics

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“…A group of 14 soldiers (T, for trainee) selected from the outgoing troops after a year in the army; they spoke the following languages: Northern Sotho (1), Southern Sotho (2), Xhosa (2), Afrikaans (2), Swazi (1), Zulu (2), Venda (2), Ndebele (1), and Tswana (1) The use of this variety of research tools enabled the researchers to capture both objective, quantitative ethnolinguistic data and subjective, qualitative ethnolinguistic data (see Pierson 1994).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Language contact and ethnolinguistic identity in an Eastern Cape army camp

Barkhuizen¹,

Klerk²

2000

International Journal of the Sociology of Language

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This article examines the ethnolinguistic consequences of change within a South African National Defence Force army camp. Since 1994, the army has become racially, and hence ethnically, integrated. This has resulted in Speakers ofthe various South African languages living and working together in the same environment. Research was conducted to investigate the consequences of this interethnolinguistic contact. A multi-method research approach revealed that although all eleven South African official languages were represented in the camp, English was the language used for general communication, instruction, and command. Army personnel were generally supportive of this policy. Furthermore, at the same time äs identifying with the social Institution of the army, their perceptions of their own ethnolinguistic identities did not seem to be negatively affected.

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Ethnolinguistic vitality during a period of decolonization without independence: perceived vitality in Hong Kong

Cited by 13 publications

References 16 publications

The tao of identity in heteroglossic Hong Kong

The tao of identity in heteroglossic Hong Kong

Cultural background influences the liminal perception of Chinese characters: An ERP study

Language contact and ethnolinguistic identity in an Eastern Cape army camp

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