A study of Macao tertiary students’ language attitudes after the handover

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study investigates Macao tertiary students’ language attitudes under the dynamic interplay of local, national, and global forces. The Portuguese established their settlement at Macao during the mid-sixteenth century and their colonial rule over Macao during the mid-nineteenth century. Macao's sovereignty was transferred to China at midnight on 19 December 1999 and the Macao Special Administrative Region was created. The push and pull between decolonisation, renationalisation, and globalisation are discernible in Macao people's language attitudes. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2012 among freshmen of the University of Macau to investigate their attitudes towards Cantonese, Putonghua, English, and Portuguese. Results show that in terms of their integrative orientation to the four languages, students display the most integrative feelings to Cantonese, followed by English. Putonghua and Portuguese are ranked third and last. In terms of their instrumental orientation to the four languages, students give the highest rating to English, followed by Cantonese and Putonghua. Portuguese receives the lowest rating. Significant differences are found among students’ attitudes towards the four languages.