SpringerBriefs in Linguistics: A Comparative Study of Language Shift and Maintenance Across National Borders

Ding, Picus Sizhi

This book presents multilingualism as a social phenomenon, which arises when speakers of a different language move to a new society and learn to speak the dominant language of the society. It offers case studies of Hokkien migrating families when they encounter new languages in Burma, Macao and San Francisco, showing how a family changes across generations from monolingual to bilingual/multilingual and back to monolingual. In the process language shift occurs as a result of transitional bilingualism. The dynamic status of Hokkien is also attested at the societal level in Singapore, Taiwan and south Fujian, the homeland of Hokkien.

Details

Published by: Springer

Publication Date: 2015-11-24

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9789812875938

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-287-594-5

Dimensions: 235cm x155cm

Pages: 109