Chiu Chow
Language Choice
Communicative competence allows us to speak and use the varieties in our linguistic repertoire. After examining the patterns of language choice of our six informants, we are able to identify the social and sociolinguistic factors most associated with variations in those patterns of language choice. The model of domain analysis from Fishman (1972) is used to analyse the collected data.
Types of interlocutor
Interlocutors in an interaction have a significant effect on language choice (Gal, 1979). The types of interlocutor can be divided into categories of family or non-family. Language choice is restricted by the ethnic and language background of the hearers. If the conversation is made within family members, our informants all used Chiu Chow language. If the interaction is within non-family members, our informants will choose the type of language that is most connected betweem them, namely Cantonese.
Social Context
Difference in social context has relation to the sensitivity of language choice. The language choice relates the speakers to the particular social category and able to show the sense of belonging and intimacy. At home, our informants are likely to use Chiu Chow language as this is their common first language. But in other social settings such as workpalce or school, they will change their language choice to Cantonese because Chiu Chow language has no functions in these settings- it is an ethnic dialect.
Age and Generational Differences
Older members tend to speak more Chiu Chow while younger generations speak more in Cantonese. Old members of the community are also increasingly accomodating to younger members by using Cantonese. They become bilingual instead of monolingual. They do not encourage the ethnic language maintenance.
Educational level
Educational level plays a role in speakers’ language choice. Our informants’ educational levels ranged from primary schooling to tertiary level education. Primary level education is only found among the older members, and they tend to speak in Chiu Chow language as it provides them with higher sense of belonging; better educated younger generations are becoming multilingual speakers whom can speak in Cantonese, English and Mandarin.
Ability in Chiu Chow and Cantonese
Language ability and language choice are interrelated. If the speaker’s ability in using Chiu Chow is weak, the frequency of using it is necessarily low. The ability of younger generations in using Chiu Chow is weaker than the old generations, and thus they tend to use Cantonese or other languages in daily lives.
Attitudes
Attitudes and perceptions towards Chiu Chow language and Cantonese are correlated to the use of certain language. Most of our informants’ attitudes and perceptions towards Chiu Chow language are either positive or neutral. The older generations are more emotionally attached to the use of Chiu Chou, and thus they tend to use Chiu Chow language more.
Institutional Factors
Institutional factors such as government policies and mass media have a salient impact on the language choice of community members. Since official languages in Hong Kong are Cantonese and English, they are dominated in everyday communication. Also, Chiu Chow language is not promoted in any mass media.
Socio-economic status
The high socio-economic status of Hong Kong has resulted in more people using Cantonese as an expression of social identity. Some linguistic forms are associated with stigmatized social groups and people do not to identify themselves as one of them. Younger generations are therefore preferred to speak in Cantonese to their native Chinese dialect.
