Chapter 3. Production and evaluation of sociolinguistic variation in Mandarin Chinese among children in Singapore
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Rebecca Lurie Starr
Abstract
Singapore Mandarin is traditionally characterized by non-standard features arising from southern Chinese dialect influence. However, as English expands as a home language in Singapore, children’s Mandarin exposure is increasingly limited to formal school settings. The situation is further complicated by rising immigration from Mainland China and the presence of Mainland teachers in the education sector. This study investigates how local and expatriate children in Singapore acquire and evaluate Mandarin variation in this complex landscape. Expatriates attending international schools are found to orient towards Mainland varieties, while expatriates in local schools acquire more local usage patterns, but do not demonstrate sociolinguistic knowledge comparable to Singaporean peers. These findings suggest that transnational migration and language shift are prompting changes in Singapore Mandarin.
Abstract
Singapore Mandarin is traditionally characterized by non-standard features arising from southern Chinese dialect influence. However, as English expands as a home language in Singapore, children’s Mandarin exposure is increasingly limited to formal school settings. The situation is further complicated by rising immigration from Mainland China and the presence of Mainland teachers in the education sector. This study investigates how local and expatriate children in Singapore acquire and evaluate Mandarin variation in this complex landscape. Expatriates attending international schools are found to orient towards Mainland varieties, while expatriates in local schools acquire more local usage patterns, but do not demonstrate sociolinguistic knowledge comparable to Singaporean peers. These findings suggest that transnational migration and language shift are prompting changes in Singapore Mandarin.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- List of tables ix
- List of figures xiii
- Acknowledgements xv
- Editors and contributors xvii
- Chapter 1. Variation and second language acquisition 1
- Chapter 2. An investigation of the use of the multifunctional particle ‑ le by second language learners of Mandarin Chinese 15
- Chapter 3. Production and evaluation of sociolinguistic variation in Mandarin Chinese among children in Singapore 43
- Chapter 4. Cross-linguistic influence in the acquisition of L3 variation 71
- Chapter 5. What can Cantonese heritage speakers tell us about age of acquisition, linguistic dominance, and sociophonetic variation? 97
- Chapter 6. Spanish rhotic variation and development in uninstructed immersion 127
- Chapter 7. Linguistic variation and second language Spanish 159
- Chapter 8. Acquiring sociolinguistic competence during study abroad 199
- Chapter 9. Variation in choice of prepositions with place names on the French L1–L2 continuum in Ontario, Canada 223
- Chapter 10. Variation, identity and language attitudes 253
- Chapter 11. Sociostylistic variation in L2 French 279
- Chapter 12. Differential object marking in heritage and homeland Italian 311
- Chapter 13. On (not) acquiring a sociolinguistic stereotype 337
- Author index 359
- Subject index 363
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- List of tables ix
- List of figures xiii
- Acknowledgements xv
- Editors and contributors xvii
- Chapter 1. Variation and second language acquisition 1
- Chapter 2. An investigation of the use of the multifunctional particle ‑ le by second language learners of Mandarin Chinese 15
- Chapter 3. Production and evaluation of sociolinguistic variation in Mandarin Chinese among children in Singapore 43
- Chapter 4. Cross-linguistic influence in the acquisition of L3 variation 71
- Chapter 5. What can Cantonese heritage speakers tell us about age of acquisition, linguistic dominance, and sociophonetic variation? 97
- Chapter 6. Spanish rhotic variation and development in uninstructed immersion 127
- Chapter 7. Linguistic variation and second language Spanish 159
- Chapter 8. Acquiring sociolinguistic competence during study abroad 199
- Chapter 9. Variation in choice of prepositions with place names on the French L1–L2 continuum in Ontario, Canada 223
- Chapter 10. Variation, identity and language attitudes 253
- Chapter 11. Sociostylistic variation in L2 French 279
- Chapter 12. Differential object marking in heritage and homeland Italian 311
- Chapter 13. On (not) acquiring a sociolinguistic stereotype 337
- Author index 359
- Subject index 363
