More Chinese friends, better Chinese? The influence of language use and social networks of South Asian adolescents in Hong Kong on their Chinese language proficiency

Abstract

This thesis examines the language use and social networks of the young South Asian community in Hong Kong and their influence on their proficiency in Chinese. Through surveys, Chinese language assessment and participant observation, it provides a general picture of their linguistic repertoires in various domains (family, school, friendship and after-school activities) and their regular social networks in their daily lives, with a primary focus of the extent of their interaction of Hong Kong Chinese, to determine the role of their social networks on their proficiency in Chinese. The thesis shows that there is a correlation between their social networks with Chinese and higher proficiency in Chinese. In other words, if the young South Asians have more interaction and a dense and multiplex social network with Hong Kong Chinese, their proficiency in Chinese will be higher. Other than their social networks, there are other factors affecting their proficiency in Chinese and these will be further discussed. By studying their daily social interaction, this thesis will enhance our understandings of their social lives and the South Asian cultures in Hong Kong.