TITLE:
Construction of Cross-Cultural Identity by Language Choice and Linguistic Practice: A Case-Study of Mixed Hong Kong-Mainland Identity in University Contexts
AUTHORS:
Tao Gong, Lan Shuai, Jia Liu
KEYWORDS:
Cross-Cultural Identity; Linguistic Practice; Code-Mixing; Code-Switching
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Linguistics,
Vol.3 No.3,
August
20,
2013
ABSTRACT: Studying relations between language and speaker’s identity is an interdisciplinary field that involves intersections among language, culture, and society. By examining the language choice and linguistic practice, especially code-mixing and code-switching, of the Mainland China students who are studying in universities of Hong Kong, we reveal a mixed Hong Kong-Mainland identity in these students: those who hold a Mainland-oriented identity tend to have a Putonghua-dominated language choice and linguistic practice, whereas those who embrace a Hong Kong-oriented identity tend to prefer a Cantonese-dominated choice and practice. This mixed identity helps better conceive the social image of Mainland immigrants in Hong Kong and discuss the cross-cultural identity formed by linguistic practice.