Identity Construction on Shop Signs in 'Singapore''s Chinatown: A Study of Linguistic Choices by 'Chinese' Singaporeans and New 'Chinese' Immigrants
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| Title: | Identity Construction on Shop Signs in 'Singapore''s Chinatown: A Study of Linguistic Choices by 'Chinese' Singaporeans and New 'Chinese' Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Zhang, Hui (ORCID |
| Source: | International Multilingual Research Journal. 2023 17(1):15-32. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Immigrants, Language Planning, Language Usage, Neighborhoods, Second Language Learning, Multilingualism, Foreign Countries, Ethnic Groups, Chinese, Signs, Decision Making, Self Concept, Asians, Land Settlement, History, English (Second Language), Bilingualism, Monolingualism, Indonesian Languages, Japanese, Korean, Language Attitudes, Written Language, Preferences, Romanization, Orthographic Symbols, Small Businesses |
| Geographic Terms: | Singapore, China |
| DOI: | 10.1080/19313152.2022.2080445 |
| ISSN: | 1931-3152 1931-3160 |
| Abstract: | Chinatowns, as neighborhoods for overseas ethnic Chinese, have garnered considerable scholarly attention from linguistic landscape (LL) researchers in recent years. These investigations tend to treat old immigrants who have been tied to the neighborhoods for generations as the key text producers of LL, with far too little attention paid to the LL practices of new Chinese immigrants in Chinatowns, who are often associated with transnationalism and the rise of China. Focusing on Singapore's Chinatown, the present study attempts to explore Chinese Singaporean and new Chinese immigrants' linguistic choices concerning the Chinese-language signs displayed in the LL. Drawing on 326 instances of signs collected during site visits, the study found that Chinese Singaporeans and new Chinese immigrants make different linguistic choices when projecting their respective authenticities and identities. These findings suggest that there is indeed a linguistic basis for previously expressed arguments that Chinese Singaporean authenticity is threatened by new Chinese immigrants, shedding light on the need to examine the heterogeneity of Chinatown from the perspective of LL. This study enriches the scholarly understanding of LL practices within Chinese diasporic settlements in the East. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1377554 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Chinatowns, as neighborhoods for overseas ethnic Chinese, have garnered considerable scholarly attention from linguistic landscape (LL) researchers in recent years. These investigations tend to treat old immigrants who have been tied to the neighborhoods for generations as the key text producers of LL, with far too little attention paid to the LL practices of new Chinese immigrants in Chinatowns, who are often associated with transnationalism and the rise of China. Focusing on Singapore's Chinatown, the present study attempts to explore Chinese Singaporean and new Chinese immigrants' linguistic choices concerning the Chinese-language signs displayed in the LL. Drawing on 326 instances of signs collected during site visits, the study found that Chinese Singaporeans and new Chinese immigrants make different linguistic choices when projecting their respective authenticities and identities. These findings suggest that there is indeed a linguistic basis for previously expressed arguments that Chinese Singaporean authenticity is threatened by new Chinese immigrants, shedding light on the need to examine the heterogeneity of Chinatown from the perspective of LL. This study enriches the scholarly understanding of LL practices within Chinese diasporic settlements in the East. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1931-3152 1931-3160 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/19313152.2022.2080445 |
