Resumen de Chinese or English?: Language choice amongst Chinese students in Newcastle upon Tyne
Sociolinguistic patterns of Chinese communities in Britain are a rich and important field which has yet to be systematically explored. Any investigation into the internal structuring and cultural norms and values of these communities must be sensitive to the social and historical background of the people concerned. As a first step towards providing more accurate information, this paper discusses the complexity of the composition of the Chinese population in this country. Findings from a pilot study of language choice within a sub‐group of students are presented. These findings are discussed in the context of wider sociolinguistic issues the Chinese people face as they seek to come to terms with life in Britain.
