Code-switching on Mobile Instant Messaging among Hong Kong gay men — a sociopragmatic perspective
Presenter Title/Affiliation
University of Hong Kong
Start Date
22-5-2021 4:45 PM
Event Name
Panel discussion
Panel Number
17
Panel Chair Name
Brian King
Zoom URL to Join
https://ciis.zoom.us/j/94170703143
Zoom Meeting ID
941 7070 3143
Abstract
Against the backdrop of postcolonialism and a divisive political landscape in Hong Kong, this study examines identity construction from a sociopragmatic perspective via discourse analysis of digital chat logs from local gay men who are users of Grindr and Tinder, and their metapragmatic reflexivity in discussion. One of many salient manifestations of lingering colonial legacy that permeates the society in Hong Kong is through language. Language policy institutionalizes and reinforces a language ideology that bestows prestige and social cachet to English. Code-switching, employing two or more languages or language varieties in discourse, is commonplace in multi-cultural/lingual communities; it is no exception in Hong Kong where code-switching exists as a reflexive norm. With ubiquitous application of smart phones and hence mobile instant messaging, communicating online has gained an indispensable foothold in our daily lives. Much of modern socialization is now reliant on mobile applications that bring people together and facilitate communication – in the case for this study, geo-social/-locational applications for dating have become increasingly vital in the gay community. Code-switching is known to be a discursive strategy employed by bilinguals in constructing identity, which can also transpire in digital discourse. In what ways is code-switching being utilized to index language ideologies and cultural values, and in turn construct identities? Code-switching has been extensively researched in sociolinguistics, while discourse analytic studies have scrutinized the interaction and relationship between code-switching and identity via macro-social and micro lens. However, there is a paucity of analyses with dimensions of identity overlapping or intersecting. While the review of literature suggests there are precedents of identity related code-switching, few of such investigations weave sexuality into the fabric of the research, and none has been conducted in Hong Kong. Using sociopragmatics as a general framework, the current study investigates the pragmatic and identity-related factors in code-switching on mobile instant messaging among Hong Kong gay men, which consequently evince ideological implications. Beyond timely contextualization, this study also aims to contribute to the lacuna that calls for more nuanced analyses that foreground complex intersectionality.
Presenter Contact
plsze@connect.hku.hk
Code-switching on Mobile Instant Messaging among Hong Kong gay men — a sociopragmatic perspective
Against the backdrop of postcolonialism and a divisive political landscape in Hong Kong, this study examines identity construction from a sociopragmatic perspective via discourse analysis of digital chat logs from local gay men who are users of Grindr and Tinder, and their metapragmatic reflexivity in discussion. One of many salient manifestations of lingering colonial legacy that permeates the society in Hong Kong is through language. Language policy institutionalizes and reinforces a language ideology that bestows prestige and social cachet to English. Code-switching, employing two or more languages or language varieties in discourse, is commonplace in multi-cultural/lingual communities; it is no exception in Hong Kong where code-switching exists as a reflexive norm. With ubiquitous application of smart phones and hence mobile instant messaging, communicating online has gained an indispensable foothold in our daily lives. Much of modern socialization is now reliant on mobile applications that bring people together and facilitate communication – in the case for this study, geo-social/-locational applications for dating have become increasingly vital in the gay community. Code-switching is known to be a discursive strategy employed by bilinguals in constructing identity, which can also transpire in digital discourse. In what ways is code-switching being utilized to index language ideologies and cultural values, and in turn construct identities? Code-switching has been extensively researched in sociolinguistics, while discourse analytic studies have scrutinized the interaction and relationship between code-switching and identity via macro-social and micro lens. However, there is a paucity of analyses with dimensions of identity overlapping or intersecting. While the review of literature suggests there are precedents of identity related code-switching, few of such investigations weave sexuality into the fabric of the research, and none has been conducted in Hong Kong. Using sociopragmatics as a general framework, the current study investigates the pragmatic and identity-related factors in code-switching on mobile instant messaging among Hong Kong gay men, which consequently evince ideological implications. Beyond timely contextualization, this study also aims to contribute to the lacuna that calls for more nuanced analyses that foreground complex intersectionality.
https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/lavlang/2021/saturday/32
