East Asians Accepted: The Sociolinguistic Evolution of Language Affecting How East Asian People Perceive Themselves and are Perceived by Others

Authors: Benjamin Duke (University College London, United Kingdom)
Speakers: Benjamin Duke
Strand: Applied Sociolinguistics
Session Type: General Session

Abstract

This paper provides a conceptual theoretical review of how East Asian people’s sociolinguistics, helps them to retain their self-identify when they live in non-East Asian regions globally. The paper also provides a critical analysis of the discourse indigenous populations in non-East Asian countries use, when interacting with or talking about East Asian people. With China set to become the leading global superpower by the end of the 2020s if not already; there is growing recognition of other Asian country es in the non-East Asian world. People are increasingly aware that the populations of for example: Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, North Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are quite different. The effect of ‘linguistic imperialism’ has forced many East Asian people to learn English, given them an advantage of language dualism. East Asian people now able to keep their identity using their homeland language, whilst developing socially and professionally in a foreign country by speaking English. As larger parts of Asia have opened up, East Asia has come to symbolise a new society of geopolitical significance and trade strength. The psychosocial dynamic of language helps East Asian people internalise their heritage; food and religious practice discourse with non-East Asian people, act to mainstream cultural symbols of East Asian identities.

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