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Article published In:
Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 44:2 (2020) ► pp.123–145

Language choice in peer interactions and the role of peers in minority language maintenance

A case study from Vietnam

ORCID logo | University of Queensland
ORCID logo | University of Queensland

Drawing on the positioning theory and the conditions for language use, this article examines Vietnamese ethnic minority students’ language choice in interactions with their same-ethnicity and majority peers, focusing particularly on their communication motives underlying this choice. Findings suggest that in regulating their language alternation practices across peer groups in different contexts, the students shifted their participation status – from aligning (being alike) to disaligning (being distinct) – to (re)position themselves in relation to their peers. As their desires for alignment or disalignment were either supported or disrupted by their peers, peer attitudes played a critical role in providing opportunities and encouraging minority students’ willingness to use their L1 in school and ethnic community spaces. Implications are suggested for engaging peer support as a resource for maintaining or widening L1 use among young minority people in both of the domains.

Keywords: language choice, language use, language maintenance, positioning, peer interactions, minority students
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Context
  • Theoretical framework
    • Individual language use and language policy outcomes
    • Alignment and disalignment as positioning strategies in peer interactions
  • Methodology
    • Research site and participants
    • Data collection and analysis
  • Findings
    • Communication with L2 peers in school
    • Communication with L1 peers in school
    • Communication with L1 peers in the ethnic community
  • Discussion and conclusions
  • Transcription convention
  • References
Published online: 24 September 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.19003.ngu
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Cited by 1 other publications

Nguyen, Trang Thi Thuy & M. Obaidul Hamid
2021. Language choice of Vietnamese ethnic minority students in family and community interactions: implications for minority language maintenance. International Multilingual Research Journal ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo

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