Moving beyond survivalism? Youth perspectives on non‐Mandarin Chinese languages in the study of Chinese voluntary associations in Singapore and Vancouver

Abstract

The contributions of Chinese voluntary associations (CVAs) have often been viewed through a survivalist lens. As a process by which the activities of such organisations are interpreted through a rigid sense of what a Chinese community association is and should be, survivalist tendencies in academic scholarship must be re‐thought to fully assess the functions of several types of CVAs, including amid the cultural rise of the People's Republic of China. In light of Sara Ahmed's notion of ‘orientation’, we offer a vantage point from which to rethink the roles of such associations. We do so by illuminating the contributions of key organisations involved in efforts to revitalise Chinese languages other than Mandarin in two locales outside of China, namely the Siong Leng Musical Association and Viriya Community Services in Singapore, and Wongs' Benevolent Association and Youth Collaborative for Chinatown in Vancouver. By focusing on these four voluntary associations in Singapore and Vancouver and, more specifically, on the perspectives of their youth members, we show the similar dialectical nature of their activities, which are caught in the dynamic interplays between local and global cultural forces and between intergenerational perspectives on language use.

Diasporic Chinese voluntary associations engage China's rise

“…In a similar vein, Montsion et al . 's (2023) paper argues that the efforts of CVAs at revitalising Chinese languages other than Mandarin in Singapore and Vancouver are caught in the dynamic, dialectical interplays of local considerations and global cultural forces. First, they illustrate that preserving and revitalising Cantonese, the language used by the ‘older’ immigrant Chinese, is vital to local Chinese communities in Vancouver as a way of distancing themselves from the positions and actions of the PRC government and Chinese communities elsewhere.…”

“…These functions carry on and have even been intensified in the new era of China rising, as described in the articles in this collection. For instance, Montsion et al (2023) mention that teaching non-Mandarin Chinese dialects by an unconventional voluntary association called Viriya Community Services (VCS) helps Singaporean state agencies foster closer relations with places in mainland China where these languages are spoken. In addition to enhancing host societies' linkage to China, CVAs play a particularly important role for China to implement BRI-related projects and the 'Go Global' strategy in Southeast Asia.…”

“…In order to make nanyin more in line with a cosmopolitan Singaporean identity, traditional practices had to be reinvented and questions of cultural authenticity and hybridity required negotiation, including adopting and incorporating new elements as well as appropriating Chinese ancestral heritage and resources. Montsion et al (2023) offer a similar example in which the advent of 'fusion nanyin' that incorporates Indian dance components, jazz and Malay instruments into their performances allows youth organisers to offer an updated artform that reflects the cultural fusions occurring in Singapore. This type of local adaptation happening within CVAs reflects the changing cultural landscape and the targeted cosmopolitan audiences as well as leads to the long-term sustainability of organisations.…”

“…Montsion et al . (2023) offer a similar example in which the advent of ‘fusion nanyin ’ that incorporates Indian dance components, jazz and Malay instruments into their performances allows youth organisers to offer an updated artform that reflects the cultural fusions occurring in Singapore. This type of local adaptation happening within CVAs reflects the changing cultural landscape and the targeted cosmopolitan audiences as well as leads to the long‐term sustainability of organisations.…”

Dual‐facing bridges and brokers: Diaspora politics and Chinese voluntary associations

“…Thus, their dual-facing rolesas bridges and brokers oriented towards both the ancestral land and their countries of settlementcan be fraught with uncertainty and tensions depending on the political climate in both contexts (e.g. see Hoon and Zhao, 2023;Montsion et al, 2023). Expanding and deepening our understanding of how Chinese voluntary associations navigate the demands placed on them at both ends of the spectrum (e.g.…”