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Xinjiapo Fujian she qun yu yan yi wei diao cha yan jiu = A sociolinguistic survey on language shift in the Hokkien Chinese community of Singapore
Other titles
新加坡福建社群语言易位调查研究
Abstract
Singapore is an unique multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. Over the past three decades, parallel to the nation's tremendous socioeconomic development has been a massive language shift from a multiplicity of ethnic languages towards the four official national languages. A microscopic reflection of this shift could be represented by language development in the Hokkien Chinese community, the largest sub-group within the Chinese community.
This study aims to ascertain the extent of language shift and dialect loss within the Hokkien Chinese community through a thorough investigation into the language use and language ability patterns as well as the language attitude of a sample of 70 native speakers of Hokkien with the help of a questionnaire. The relationship between this shift and the language policies implemented since independence is also examined. Based on the data gathered, attempt is also being made to predict the future state of language development within the community.
This thesis consists of seven chapters. The introductory chapter sets forth the objectives, scope and significance of the study. In the second chapter, a number of key concepts related to the theory of language shift relevant to our discussion are reviewed. Chapter three is a brief sketch of Singapore's socio-linguistic situation and the major language policies implemented since independence. In Chapter four, some previous empirical studies are reviewed. Chapter five introduces the research methodology which includes the design of the questionnaire, sampling, implementation procedure and data analysis. This is followed by a discussion on the results and findings in chapter six. In the final chapter, limitations of the study and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
This study aims to ascertain the extent of language shift and dialect loss within the Hokkien Chinese community through a thorough investigation into the language use and language ability patterns as well as the language attitude of a sample of 70 native speakers of Hokkien with the help of a questionnaire. The relationship between this shift and the language policies implemented since independence is also examined. Based on the data gathered, attempt is also being made to predict the future state of language development within the community.
This thesis consists of seven chapters. The introductory chapter sets forth the objectives, scope and significance of the study. In the second chapter, a number of key concepts related to the theory of language shift relevant to our discussion are reviewed. Chapter three is a brief sketch of Singapore's socio-linguistic situation and the major language policies implemented since independence. In Chapter four, some previous empirical studies are reviewed. Chapter five introduces the research methodology which includes the design of the questionnaire, sampling, implementation procedure and data analysis. This is followed by a discussion on the results and findings in chapter six. In the final chapter, limitations of the study and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
Date Issued
1999
Call Number
P40.45 L56
Date Submitted
1999