Table of Contents

Part I:  Introduction: Sociocultural and Sociolinguistic Backgrounds.- Dialect Issues in Multilingual China: A Dog That Has Barked.- The Politics and Sociolinguistics of Chinese Dialects.- Part II:  Conceptual and Methodological Frameworks.- Researching Language Attitudes in Multilingual China.- Part III:  Becoming Members of a Multidialectal City.- “Mother Tongues” of a Multidialectal City.- Language Socialisation in Multidialectal Households: a Case Study.- Part IV: Putonghua and Regional Dialects at School.- Language Socialisation in Educational Institutions.- Teachers’ Attitudes towards Dialects in School.- Part V: Discussion and Reflection.- Problematizing the Monolingual Norm in a Multidialectal City.- Schools in the Era of Multilingualism.- Language Attitudes in Heteroglossia: Methodological Reflections.- Appendix I: The Students’ Profiles.- Appendix II: The Schools and the Teachers’ Profiles.

Promotional Information

This book is a vivid and fascinating portrayal of how students and teachers in Guangzhou deal with the complexities of life in a multilingual environment. Rich in detail, it is also wonderfully clear and accessible to both scholars and general readers. Don Snow, English Language Center, Guangdong, China

Reviews

“The book draws a necessarily complex picture of the various arrays of attitudes, and tries to trace and demonstrate the origins and directions of these arrays. For those who believe in or are bewildered by the complexity, hybridity, and fluidity of modern language experiences, this book would make for a pleasant read. The narrative of the book is clear, authentic, lively, and reflective while remaining intellectually sophisticated. It should be accessible to a broad readership.” (Chengtuan Li, Language in Society, Vol. 45 (1), 2016)