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Language-Based Social Preferences of Language Minority Children in Hong Kong

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Title: Language-Based Social Preferences of Language Minority Children in Hong Kong
Language: English
Authors: Zhengliang Sun (ORCID 0000-0002-1096-4212), Yau Yu Chan (ORCID 0000-0002-4629-7052)
Source: First Language. 2026 46(2):288-304.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Kindergarten
Primary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Child Language, Young Children, Preferences, Sociolinguistics, Kindergarten, Bilingualism, Bilingual Students, Minority Group Students, Native Language, Urdu, Sino Tibetan Languages, Dialects, Language Proficiency, Native Speakers, Language Dominance
Geographic Terms: Hong Kong, Pakistan
DOI: 10.1177/01427237251380745
ISSN: 0142-7237
1740-2344
Abstract: The social preferences of young children are significantly influenced by both language and accent. While existing studies have often focused on monolingual children in societies where the dominant language is also the high-status language, less is known about how multilingual children, especially those speaking a less dominant native language, form their language-based social preferences. As there is a complex interplay among language, accent, perceived language status, and acceptance, this study aims to investigate the language- and accent-related preferences of Pakistani kindergarten children speaking a less dominant native language in the multilingual Hong Kong context. The participants include 67 Pakistani children (35 boys and 32 girls; M[subscript age] = 54.14 months) recruited from 5 kindergartens using Chinese as the medium of instruction. They participated in two experiments that examined their social preferences based on language (i.e., their native language, Urdu, vs. the dominant language, Cantonese) and accent (i.e., Cantonese with a native accent vs. Cantonese with an Urdu accent). Results of mixed-effects binomial logistic regression models revealed dynamic patterns. In Experiment 1, Pakistani children showed a significant preference for Urdu speakers. However, a significant interaction between children's age and children's Cantonese proficiency indicated that while younger children consistently preferred Urdu speakers, older children with higher Cantonese proficiency showed a greater likelihood of preferring Cantonese speakers. In Experiment 2, children significantly preferred native-accented Cantonese over Urdu-accented Cantonese. This preference was also observed to strengthen as both age and children's Cantonese proficiency increased. These findings suggest that children's social preferences are not solely driven by in-group linguistic familiarity but are dynamically shaped by a growing awareness and preference for the linguistic high-status group within their broader social environment. This process is mediated by developmental factors and environmental exposure, offering implications for inclusive language education and integration policies in multilingual societies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499981
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Language-Based Social Preferences of Language Minority Children in Hong Kong
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhengliang+Sun%22">Zhengliang Sun</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1096-4212">0000-0002-1096-4212</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yau+Yu+Chan%22">Yau Yu Chan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4629-7052">0000-0002-4629-7052</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22First+Language%22"><i>First Language</i></searchLink>. 2026 46(2):288-304.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: 17
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Language%22">Child Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preferences%22">Preferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociolinguistics%22">Sociolinguistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bilingualism%22">Bilingualism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bilingual+Students%22">Bilingual Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Group+Students%22">Minority Group Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urdu%22">Urdu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sino+Tibetan+Languages%22">Sino Tibetan Languages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dialects%22">Dialects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Speakers%22">Native Speakers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Dominance%22">Language Dominance</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hong+Kong%22">Hong Kong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pakistan%22">Pakistan</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/01427237251380745
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  Data: 0142-7237<br />1740-2344
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The social preferences of young children are significantly influenced by both language and accent. While existing studies have often focused on monolingual children in societies where the dominant language is also the high-status language, less is known about how multilingual children, especially those speaking a less dominant native language, form their language-based social preferences. As there is a complex interplay among language, accent, perceived language status, and acceptance, this study aims to investigate the language- and accent-related preferences of Pakistani kindergarten children speaking a less dominant native language in the multilingual Hong Kong context. The participants include 67 Pakistani children (35 boys and 32 girls; M[subscript age] = 54.14 months) recruited from 5 kindergartens using Chinese as the medium of instruction. They participated in two experiments that examined their social preferences based on language (i.e., their native language, Urdu, vs. the dominant language, Cantonese) and accent (i.e., Cantonese with a native accent vs. Cantonese with an Urdu accent). Results of mixed-effects binomial logistic regression models revealed dynamic patterns. In Experiment 1, Pakistani children showed a significant preference for Urdu speakers. However, a significant interaction between children's age and children's Cantonese proficiency indicated that while younger children consistently preferred Urdu speakers, older children with higher Cantonese proficiency showed a greater likelihood of preferring Cantonese speakers. In Experiment 2, children significantly preferred native-accented Cantonese over Urdu-accented Cantonese. This preference was also observed to strengthen as both age and children's Cantonese proficiency increased. These findings suggest that children's social preferences are not solely driven by in-group linguistic familiarity but are dynamically shaped by a growing awareness and preference for the linguistic high-status group within their broader social environment. This process is mediated by developmental factors and environmental exposure, offering implications for inclusive language education and integration policies in multilingual societies.
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1177/01427237251380745
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 288
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Young Children
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      – SubjectFull: Preferences
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      – SubjectFull: Sociolinguistics
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      – SubjectFull: Kindergarten
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      – SubjectFull: Bilingualism
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      – SubjectFull: Bilingual Students
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      – SubjectFull: Minority Group Students
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      – SubjectFull: Native Language
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      – SubjectFull: Urdu
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sino Tibetan Languages
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      – SubjectFull: Dialects
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      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
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      – SubjectFull: Native Speakers
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      – SubjectFull: Language Dominance
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      – SubjectFull: Hong Kong
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      – SubjectFull: Pakistan
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      – TitleFull: Language-Based Social Preferences of Language Minority Children in Hong Kong
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