Language Attitudes in China: A Literature Review

Literature Review:

Language attitudes refer to the attitudes and beliefs individuals or groups hold towards different languages or language varieties. Language attitudes can have significant implications for language policy, language education, and language planning. In China, language attitudes are complex and dynamic due to the country's multilingual and multicultural nature. This literature review aims to provide an overview of previous research on language attitudes in China.

In a study conducted by Hu and McKay (2008), the authors explored the attitudes of Chinese students towards English and their native language. The study found that students had a positive attitude towards English, perceiving it as a tool for social mobility and success. However, the study also found that students had a negative attitude towards their native language, perceiving it as inferior and less valued than English.

Another study by Li and colleagues (2018) investigated the attitudes of Chinese university students towards different Chinese dialects. The study found that students held negative attitudes towards non-standard dialects, perceiving them as 'uneducated' and 'inferior' to standard Mandarin. The study also found that students' attitudes towards dialects were influenced by social factors such as family background and education level.

In a study conducted by Wei and colleagues (2015), the authors investigated the attitudes of Chinese university students towards foreign accents in English. The study found that students held a preference towards native English accents, perceiving them as more prestigious and easier to understand. However, the study also found that students were willing to accept non-native accents if the speaker demonstrated strong English proficiency.

Reference List:

Hu, G., & McKay, S. L. (2008). English language education in China: Policies, progress, and problems. Language Policy, 7(2), 121-142.

Li, Q., Li, H., & Xu, X. (2018). Attitudes towards Chinese dialects among university students in China. Language Awareness, 27(2), 145-160.

Wei, L., Zhang, Y., & Su, X. (2015). Attitudes towards foreign accents in English among Chinese university students. Language and Intercultural Communication, 15(2), 267-283.