A Systemic-Functional Study of Language Choice in Singapore.
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| Title: | A Systemic-Functional Study of Language Choice in Singapore. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Yang, Yanning1 ynyang@english.ecnu.edu.cn, Zhang, Yunyi1 yyzhang.bj@foxmail.com |
| Source: | Researching & Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. Sep2025, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p1-24. 24p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Language policy, *Bilingualism, *Code switching (Linguistics), Social context, Mandarin dialects, Functional linguistics |
| Geographic Terms: | Singapore |
| Abstract: | English, Mandarin, and Chinese dialects form a set of choices available in Chinese Singaporeans' language system. This study attempts to reveal the relationship among language policy, social context, and language choice through a systemic-functional analysis of the use of Chinese in Singapore. Using systemic functional linguistics (SFL) theories, this article establishes a general profile of language choice in Singapore society and a concrete description of code-switching created by bilingual Singaporeans. It first examines the language choices Chinese Singaporeans actually make in terms of the three variables of Field, Tenor, and Mode, which express the context of situation. In particular, it investigates (1) what kinds of content or topic of social activities are related, respectively, to the choices of English, Mandarin, and Chinese dialects, (2) how the role relationships among people are involved in the language choices, and (3) whether various forms of expression affect the choice of languages. The findings of the examination develop into a framework predicting the likely language choices in a specific social context. The article then reveals that the adjustments of Singapore's language policy have given rise to the change of language choices in certain situations. Although systemic functional theories prove to be useful for the description of the internal organization of a language from a social perspective, this article further demonstrates the capability of the theories to explain language choices in the social context directly or indirectly affected by language policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Researching & Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: A Systemic-Functional Study of Language Choice in Singapore. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Yanning%22">Yang, Yanning</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> ynyang@english.ecnu.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Yunyi%22">Zhang, Yunyi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> yyzhang.bj@foxmail.com</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Researching+%26+Teaching+Chinese+as+a+Foreign+Language%22">Researching & Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language</searchLink>. Sep2025, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p1-24. 24p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+policy%22">Language policy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bilingualism%22">Bilingualism</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Code+switching+%28Linguistics%29%22">Code switching (Linguistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+context%22">Social context</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mandarin+dialects%22">Mandarin dialects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Functional+linguistics%22">Functional linguistics</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Singapore%22">Singapore</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: English, Mandarin, and Chinese dialects form a set of choices available in Chinese Singaporeans' language system. This study attempts to reveal the relationship among language policy, social context, and language choice through a systemic-functional analysis of the use of Chinese in Singapore. Using systemic functional linguistics (SFL) theories, this article establishes a general profile of language choice in Singapore society and a concrete description of code-switching created by bilingual Singaporeans. It first examines the language choices Chinese Singaporeans actually make in terms of the three variables of Field, Tenor, and Mode, which express the context of situation. In particular, it investigates (1) what kinds of content or topic of social activities are related, respectively, to the choices of English, Mandarin, and Chinese dialects, (2) how the role relationships among people are involved in the language choices, and (3) whether various forms of expression affect the choice of languages. The findings of the examination develop into a framework predicting the likely language choices in a specific social context. The article then reveals that the adjustments of Singapore's language policy have given rise to the change of language choices in certain situations. Although systemic functional theories prove to be useful for the description of the internal organization of a language from a social perspective, this article further demonstrates the capability of the theories to explain language choices in the social context directly or indirectly affected by language policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Researching & Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3138/rtcfl-2024-0008 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 24 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Language policy Type: general – SubjectFull: Bilingualism Type: general – SubjectFull: Code switching (Linguistics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Social context Type: general – SubjectFull: Mandarin dialects Type: general – SubjectFull: Functional linguistics Type: general – SubjectFull: Singapore Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: A Systemic-Functional Study of Language Choice in Singapore. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Yang, Yanning – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zhang, Yunyi IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 09 Text: Sep2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20531788 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 5 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Researching & Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Type: main |
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