Cover not available
Article published In:
Developments in Diglossic Settings in the Asian Pacific Region
Edited by Marinus van den Berg
[Journal of Asian Pacific Communication 30:1/2] 2020
► pp. 255–272
Special issue articles

Language behavior and identity change in the Fangshang Hui community of Xi’an

| Xi’an University
This article provides information of language behavior practices and identity change of members of the Fangshang Hui community in Xi’an, China. The study explores how differences in residential space influence language behavior as well as the way in which community identity is perceived. Two areas were studied, the traditional Hui community area “around the mosque” and the new area of modern flats. Data were collected via two-hundred questionnaires and forty sociolinguistic interviews. The survey was administered in 2016. Aspects of language behavior and language choice were related to residential area. The findings show that change of residential area has a significant effect on language choice behavior. Language choice was calculated according to the extent of use in community internal and external interactions. The varieties involved were the Fangshang Hui variety, the Xi’an dialect and Mandarin Chinese. Divergent linguistic behavior is related to altered Hui identity, which divides the community into home-dialect oriented and official-language oriented members. ‘Differential recurrence’ is introduced as the mechanism that creates language and identity change and is presented as contribution to sociolinguistic theory.
Keywords: language choice, language behavior change, identity change, differential recurrence, Hui Chinese, Xi’an
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • The Fangshang Hui community
  • Language behavior in Fangshang Hui community
  • Method
  • Results
    • Questionnaire data
    • Interview results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 30 June 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/japc.00051.hon
References (18)
References
Bucholtz, M., & Hall, K. (2004). Language and identity. A companion to linguistic anthropology 11, 369–394.Google Scholar
Dong, Hongjie. (2016). Language Community in Evolution – Language Community of the Hui People in Fangshang of Xi’an. Journal of Xi’an University 51: 28. (董洪杰. 演 进中的语言共同体——西安坊上回民语言社区[J]. 西安文理学院学报: 社会科 学版, 2016, 19/51: 117–119.)Google Scholar
. (2017). Language Variation and Identity: A Sociolinguistic Kinship Study of Xi’an Muslims in the Hui Quarter. Journal of Shaanxi Normal University 46/41: 161–169. (董洪杰. 西安坊上回民亲属称谓语变异及身份认同[J]. 陕西师范大学 学报（哲学社会科学版）, 46/41: 161–169.)Google Scholar
. (2019). The Formation and Development of Hui Community in Xi’an – From the Perspective of Language Adaptation. Tangdu Journal 2019, 35/51: 97–100. (董洪杰. 西安坊上回民社区的形成与发展——从语言适应视角探究[J]. 唐 都学刊, 35/51: 97–100.)Google Scholar
Ferguson, C. A. (1959). Diglossia. Word 15/21: 1–10.Google Scholar
Gillette, M. B. (2000). Between Mecca and Beijing: modernization and consumption among urban Chinese Muslims. Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Han, Zhuo. (2014). The pattern of the development of Hui’s historical street. Northwest University. (韩卓. 西安回民历史街区演变特征及其创意发展研究. 西北大学, 2014.)Google Scholar
Huang, Jiaying and Wu, Zuobin. (2011). Transition of the Urban Ethnic Minority Community in the Process of Rapid Urbanization – A Case Study of the Drum- tower Hui Community in Xi’an. Modern Urban Research 91: 72–77, 85. (黄嘉颖, 吴 左宾. 快速城镇化进程中城市少数民族社区结构变迁探析——以西安鼓楼回 族聚居区为例. 现代城市研究 91: 72–77, 85.)Google Scholar
Li, Yuming. (2016). Language Competition. Foreign Language Teaching and Research 48/21: 212–225. (李宇明. 语言竞争试说. 外语教学与研究, 48/21: 212–225.)Google Scholar
Liu, Yingsheng. (2003). A Brief Review of 800 years history of Hui Language development. Chinese Culture Research 13/41: 143–153. (刘迎胜. 回族语言800年发展史 简要回顾——从波斯语到“回族汉语”. 中 国 文化研究, 13/41:143–153.)Google Scholar
Ma, P. (1998). Muslim psychological-consciousness and behavior modes. Yinchuan: Ningxia Renmin Publication (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Milroy, L. (1980). Language and Social Networks. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Milroy, J. and Milroy, L. (1985). Linguistic Change, Social Network and Speaker Innovation. Journal of Linguistics 21/21: 339–384. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Milroy, L. and Milroy, J. (1992). Social network and social class: Toward an integrated sociolinguistic model. Language in Society 21/11: 1–26. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mu, G. (1989). Studying he origins of the Hui community in Xi’an from their dialect and customs. Journal of Northwest Nationalities College 31 (Philosophy and Social Studies Edition). (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Zhai, B., & Ng, M. K. (2013). Urban regeneration and social capital in China: A case study of the Drum Tower Muslim District in Xi’an. Cities, 351, 14–25. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Zhou, Qingsheng. (2000). Language and Society. Minzu University Press. (周庆生. 语言与人类: 中华民族社会语言透视. 中央民族大学出版社, 2000.)Google Scholar
Zhou, Yunqing. (1991). Introduction to Residential Sociology. Anhui People’s Press. (周运清. 住宅社会学导论. 合肥:安徽人民出版社.)Google Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Bhatt, Ibrar
2024. A Semiotics of Muslimness in China, DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 4 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.