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This book makes a novel contribution to the sociolinguistics of globalization by examining the dynamics between language and social change in the tourism destination of West Street, Yangshuo, China. The author makes use of multiple sources, including ethnographic interviews, tourist literature, public signage and policy documents, to examine how tourist mobilities are embedded in and interact with historical, geographical, social, cultural, economic and semiotic factors in the creation of a ‘global village’. The transformation of West Street is emblematic of changes in Chinese society under globalization, revealing new subjectivities, tensions and struggles inherent in this ongoing process of social change.
Tourism and language learning are well-established as distinctive areas of investigation in sociolinguistics. What makes this book important is its identification of language learning tourism as an industry. Shuang Gao’s study of Yangshuo, China, provides important insights into the social dynamics between speakers, learners and business owners as they try to balance the goal of learning English with the desire to enjoy the region’s natural attractions.
Shuang Gao works in the Department of English at the University of Liverpool, UK. Her research interests include sociolinguistics, globalization, identity and language ideology.
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Approaching the ‘Global Village’
Chapter 3. Commodification of Place, Consumption of Identity: Making ‘Global Village’ a Brand
Chapter 4. Tensions of Space: Living on the Margins of the ‘Global Village’
Chapter 5. Global Village as ‘English Corner’: ‘Enjoy Speaking English All the Time’
Chapter 6. Globalization: A Short Reflection
References
Appendix