A third player

Chinese linguistic and cultural influence at a UAE university

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11182404
AutoresSarah Hopkyn (0000-0003-0152-4108, University of St Andrews, autor correspondente), Sarah Hopkyns, Yuting Wang (0000-0002-2272-9404, American University of Sharjah)
Ano2025
Volume46
Fascículo1
Páginas82-99
Data de publicação2025-01-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0143-4632 • E-ISSN: 1747-7557
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01434632.2024.2394154
OpenAlexW4401965201
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas8
Referências citadas32

As part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a series of large-scale projects have been launched in the Arab Gulf due to its geopolitically strategic position. We examine the influence of Chinese as a third player, in addition to Arabic and English, in a UAE university educationscape together with Emirati students’ attitudes towards its influence. The study takes a case study approach, which employs open-ended questionnaires with university students (n = 40), semi-structured interviews with university students (n = 3) and a university Confucius Institute director and visual data from a walking ethnography of university social, learning, and online spaces. Data are analysed thematically via the lens of ‘Critical, Cultural Political Economy of Education’ (CCPEE), which brings together a range of concepts to interrogate globalising processes within an ‘education ensemble’. Key findings revealed a growing influence and awareness of Chinese language and culture in the UAE as well as generally positive attitudes towards such growth. There was, however, less interest in learning Chinese in comparison with other languages such as Korean and Turkish connected with soft power and media presence via dramas and music. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to informing future language policy directions in the UAE

Linguistic diversity · Linguistics · Sociology · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Multilingual Education and Policy · Psychology · Socioeconomic Development in MENA