Description
LCOM2005 Language, communication and globalisation centres on the phenomenon of 'globalisation' in relation to language and communication along three thrusts. (1) It addresses the phenomenon of globalisation bringing communities and languages into contact, the consequences of which are often viewed as situations of peril, involving the endangerment of languages, as well as the evolution of new linguistic varieties, including New Englishes. It also looks at the consequences of global mobility and migration in terms of the multilingual linguistic resources and capital created, for example in globalised neighbourhoods and in rural-urban migrants. (2) It investigates the politics of language and globalisation, in how various nations, particularly those in Asia, struggle with the balance between their indigenous languages and languages of global import and/or wider local significance, e.g. English or Mandarin; and also queries the position of other global languages, such as (in Asia) Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi. It also examines how language is a resource in the globalised new economy, in, for instance, (multilingual) business environments, tourism, outsourcing in the form of call centres, and 'linguistic migration', i.e. the phenomenon of children and their 'study mothers' seeking linguistic capital in distant lands; the issues involved in the commodification – and potential accompanying loss of authenticity and identity – of language are also examined. (3) It identifies a number of communicative practices in pop culture that are ubiquitous in and representative of today's global world, such as the linguistic creativity in SMSes, email and other electronic communication, as well as in advertising, and language flows in popular culture, such as hiphop, and explores how languages are appropriated by users in managing their own local identity alongside wider global needs. The course also critically examines various widely held notions, such as the view that globalisation will result in the homogenisation of cultures and languages and in the hegemony of English.
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Student websites/blogs (Semester II, 2011/12)
"Mainlandization" of Hong Kong Chinese language?
https://sites.google.com/site/lcom2005mandarin/
Chan Hiu Ching Jacqueline, Li Lai Sum Elsie, Ngan Bik Yu Natalie, Wong Ka Ho Gary
The spread of English in China
https://sites.google.com/site/englishspreadinchina/1-spread-of-english-in-china
Chow Hok Kwai Yvonne, Kung Wai Han Hannah, Mong Ka Yin Ken
China English in the world
http://www.china-english2012.blogspot.com/
Fung Chung Inn Yanessa, Lee Hiu Yau Alice, Pau Haley Ying, Wong Ki Sum Samson
Mandarin’s impact on the language policy and language attitudes in the globe https://sites.google.com/site/lcom2005mandarinkingdom/
Chan Lai Erin, Chan Long Hin Constant, Kong Yin Lung Joshua, Mak Yee Man Emily
The shifting of dominant global language in the world (from English to Mandarin)
http://lcom2005hku.blogspot.com/
Chan Lok Man Denize, Chiu Pui Chi Uchi, Tsui Long Yin Ron, Yu Wing Ka Ingrid
Language policy in Sri Lanka
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65199233/web/index.html
Chiang Ka Yan Hanan, Leung Lok Sze Cecilia, Li Wanto, Ng Ting Chun Marco
Language as Bourdieuan capital in the era of globalization
http://languageascapital.wordpress.com/
Lee Shuk Ting Catti, Man Fung Nga Vanessa, Ng Hei Men Shelia, Wong Yuen Shan Elaine
Language choice and flows in popular culture
http://lcom2005.weebly.com/
Auyeung Pak Lo Liz, Kwok Ching Yi Stella, Wong Ho Wing Holly
Language in electronic communication
http://lcom-ecom.blogspot.com/
Fok Wai Chung Charles, Lo Man Yan Mandy, Wong Tik Hung Warren, Yu Suet Mei Yuffie
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Last updated: 12 January 2015