LANGUAGE CHOICE | lcom3001-nepalese

Language Choice

* Market sellers in the community know simple Nepalese terms such as pipe, didi

** Code-mixing is the use of two or more varieties when talking.

# Iruna points out that Nepalese kids growing up in Hong Kong prefer English to Nepalese and they have difficulties understanding abstract concepts in Nepalese.

Analysis

Decision Tree for Parent generation

Decision Tree of Children generation (Iruna)

Differences in Language Choice

Most remarkable Difference: Eextensive use of English within children generation

Children generation more confident with using English
Possible reason: This generation educated in EMI schools in Nepal/HK or International schools in HK (English as 1st language for the latter)

Japanese not passed to children generation

Possible reason: Not dominant language in HK

Code-mixing Styles

Mixing of 2 dominant languages by new generation
Natural for children generation to switch between Nepali and English
In contrast, parent generation prefers Nepali (when they have a choice)
Implication: New Language Identity?

Prediction: Fate of Nepali in HK

Maintenance of Nepali Current Generation

Nepali remain major language in family context (including relatives)
*Strong bond of Nepalese community --> Preserve language for identity (**Covert prestige)
Common Practice to Marry within the community --> Preserve Nepali as home dialect

Potential Shift from Nepali to English (Forthcoming Generations)

Use of English with Nepali speakers within children generation
Some Kids no longer educated in Nepal and English is a very important 2nd language or even 1st language to them
Decline in Nepali proficiency among kids (abstract concepts)
Trend may become more significant in future generations

*The interviewees told us the local Nepalese used to separate into groups according to where they were from. However they realized they need to be united around 3 to 4 years ago (after some Nepalese are accused by HK people)

They were probably referring to the tragic in 2009.

http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1002773

** Covert prestige means gaining recognition and signaling membership identity in a non-prestigious group

Comparison