Language choice in online written communication among Maldivian professionals
Language choice is a sociolinguistic phenomenon which refers to the selection of language(s) for different purposes in various contexts. This study examines the language choice of Maldivians in online written communication in the domains of family, friendship and work. Dhivehi is the unique Indo-A...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2016
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10692/1/11345-39657-1-PB.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10692/ http://ejournal.ukm.my/3l/issue/view/807 |
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| Institution: | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Language choice is a sociolinguistic phenomenon which refers to the selection of language(s) for different
purposes in various contexts. This study examines the language choice of Maldivians in online written
communication in the domains of family, friendship and work. Dhivehi is the unique Indo-Aryan language
spoken almost exclusively in the Maldives along with English as the unofficial second language. A total of 150
professionals from the fields of education, administration and health took part in the study with academic
qualifications ranging from diploma to doctorate degree. The data was collected using a survey questionnaire
and analysed quantitatively. The findings revealed that Dhivehi is the dominant language in the family domain
while English is dominant in the friendship and work domains. There is also a relationship between language
choice and age, and English language proficiency. The high preference for English in online written
communication indicates a need for a language policy that would emphasise and increase the use of Dhivehi
online as a language maintenance effort. |
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