Introduction
Topic: Chinese immigrants’ influence on the U.S in terms of language
Thesis statement: The first Chinese immigrants to the United Stated in the mid 80s of 20th century included refugees. During their communication with the local Americans, they had the intention to make themselves understood by reinforcing their language (mainly using Chinese) instead of learning the native language in the United States, thus exerted influence on the local language.
Key words: Chinese refugees, immigration, communication, the United States, minority groups
Ⅰ. Introduction
In the 80s of 20th century, the first Chinese immigrants to the United States can be divided into various types- brain gain, oversea students, refugees etc. In this essay, refugees from China will be focused on. Chinese immigrants as refugees in the United States first suffered racial discrimination; most of them were poorly educated or even uneducated. As refugees, they could only take up some simple jobs in America, such as cleaners, build laborers or waste pickers. Most of them did not have the opportunity to receive formal education. And one of the most important aspects was language. Because of the working and living environment, Chinese refugees seldom had the chance to communicate with the local Americans. This situation resulted in the forming of minority groups. They shared the same language and the similar lifestyle. As time went by, the realized a group power, which gave them confidence and supported them when came across hardships. Because of the lack of language practice and the esteem gained from a minority group, the Chinese refugees might form their own way of communicating with the local Americans. They tended to express themselves by reinforcing their own language, mainly Chinese instead of immersing themselves in the American language. The local language, English, was influenced by these refugees. In this essay, these changes in American language will be discussed.
Ⅱ. Main body A.
Thesis statement: The first Chinese immigrants to the United Stated in the mid 80s of 20th century included refugees. During their communication with the local Americans, they had the intention to make themselves understood by reinforcing their language (mainly using Chinese) instead of learning the native language in the United States, thus exerted influence on the local language.
Key words: Chinese refugees, immigration, communication, the United States, minority groups
Ⅰ. Introduction
In the 80s of 20th century, the first Chinese immigrants to the United States can be divided into various types- brain gain, oversea students, refugees etc. In this essay, refugees from China will be focused on. Chinese immigrants as refugees in the United States first suffered racial discrimination; most of them were poorly educated or even uneducated. As refugees, they could only take up some simple jobs in America, such as cleaners, build laborers or waste pickers. Most of them did not have the opportunity to receive formal education. And one of the most important aspects was language. Because of the working and living environment, Chinese refugees seldom had the chance to communicate with the local Americans. This situation resulted in the forming of minority groups. They shared the same language and the similar lifestyle. As time went by, the realized a group power, which gave them confidence and supported them when came across hardships. Because of the lack of language practice and the esteem gained from a minority group, the Chinese refugees might form their own way of communicating with the local Americans. They tended to express themselves by reinforcing their own language, mainly Chinese instead of immersing themselves in the American language. The local language, English, was influenced by these refugees. In this essay, these changes in American language will be discussed.
Ⅱ. Main body A.
Cited: 高伟农，1975年到20世纪90年代初移民美国的第一代印支本地人与华人：人数与生存方式，《东南亚研究》 McKay Sandra Lee，Language, Literacy, and the Older Refugee in America: Research Agenda for the 90s. Education Resources Information Center These resources have involved some of the issues that related to Chinese refugees in American and it explicitly described the living condition of the Chinese refugees. They also analyzed the background. However, these resources dose not focus on the language changes that brought by Chinese refugees, and they also involved other subjects like indo-Americans.