Tilburg University Chineseness as a Moving Target Li, Jinling Publication date: 2016 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in Tilburg University Research Portal Citation for published version (APA): Li, J. (2016). Chineseness as a Moving Target: Changing Infrastructures of the Chinese Diaspora in the Netherlands. [s.n.]. 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Download date: 28. sep. 2021 Chineseness as a Moving Target Chineseness as a Moving Target Changing Infrastructures of the Chinese Diaspora in the Netherlands PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan Tilburg University op gezag van de rector magnificus, prof. dr. E.H.L. Aarts, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van een door het college voor promoties aangewezen commissie in de aula van de Universiteit op 12 september 2016 om 10.00 uur door Jinling Li geboren op 5 juli 1980 te Ji’an, China Promotoren: Prof. dr. Jan Blommaert Prof. dr. Sjaak Kroon Copromotor: Dr. Kasper Juffermans Overige leden van de promotiecommissie: Dr. Shuang Gao Prof. dr. Zhu Hua Prof. dr. Constant Leung Dr. Lian Malai Madsen Prof. dr. Fons van de Vijver The project Investigating discourses of inheritance and identities in four European settings (IDII4MES) was supported by HERA – Humanities in the European Research Area under file number 09-HERA-JRP-CD-OP-051 Cover design by Ziyi Li Layout by Carine Zebedee © Jinling Li, 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without permission of the author. Table of content Preface 1 1 Introduction 3 1.1 What the research is about 3 1.2 Globalization and superdiversity 5 1.3 Polycentric language and identity repertoires 6 1.4 The case of the Chinese diaspora in Eindhoven 9 1.5 Outline of the book 10 2 The changing nature of Chinese diasporas 13 2.1 Introduction 13 2.2 Changing Chinese diasporas worldwide 14 2.3 Chinese diasporas in the Netherlands and in Eindhoven 19 2.3.1 Background of Chinese diasporas in the Netherlands 19 2.3.2 The Chinese diasporic community in Eindhoven 23 2.4 Chinese schools in the Netherlands and in Eindhoven 25 2.5 Summary 26 3 Methodology: Sociolinguistic-ethnography 29 3.1 Introduction 29 3.2 Some conceptual tools 30 3.3 Data history and the researcher 31 3.4 Research instruments 37 3.5 Summary 38 4 The big in the small: The polycentric classroom 39 4.1 Introduction 39 4.2 The metapragmatics of sociolinguistic transformation 40 4.3 ‘My way of thinking in Dutch’: Negotiation of inheritance and identity 48 4.4 Summary 57 5 When school is out: Language ideologies and identities outside school 59 5.1 Introduction 59 5.2 Family language policies: Language shift or rescaling heritage? 61 5.3 Parents outside of the Chinese complementary school 70 5.4 New meets old: Transformations in the multiculinary landscape 74 5.5 Negotiating Chinese-Dutch youth identities 84 5.6 Summary 90 vi Chineseness as a Moving Target 6 World Wide Web: Chineseness 2.0 91 6.1 Introduction 91 6.2 Asian and proud: Chinese-Dutch youth identities on social media 93 6.2.1 Diversity within Chinese: To be or not to be proud 100 6.2.2 Constraints and missed opportunities in learning Chinese 101 6.3 JONC: Being Chinese in Dutch 106 6.4 Summary 113 7 Conclusions and implications 115 7.1 Recapitulation 115 7.2 Overview of outcomes 116 7.3 Theoretical implications 120 References 123 Appendix: Transcription conventions 133 Summary 135 Tilburg Dissertations in Culture Studies 139 Preface This book is about identity. More specifically, it is about contemporary identity making processes in the Chinese diaspora in the Netherlands. The identity process in Chinese diasporas all over the world has become very perspicuous due to changing migration patterns as a result of the large scale social-economic transformation in the People’s Republic of China. This research is carried out within the framework of the European HERA-funded project Investigating discourses of inheritance and identities in four European settings (IDII4MES), and out of a deep curiosity about the identity formation of Chinese immigrants in the Netherlands, who have a long history of transnational migration. Yet, little is known about them in the present world under conditions of globalization and superdiversity. As an old proverb says, it takes a village to raise a child. Many people deserve my thankfulness for helping me complete the doctoral work presented here. First, I want to express my immense gratitude to Professor Sjaak Kroon and Professor Jan Blommaert for their guidance, careful readings, important comments and suggestions throughout the years of my PhD work. I met Sjaak in the very beginning of my academic life at Tilburg University, and he opened the door of the world of sociolinguistics to me in the first place. Starting in 2006 I did a Dutch-language Master in ‘Intercultural Communi- cation’ at Tilburg University after having lived in the Netherlands for only two years. To follow a study in Dutch in the field of the Humanities after such a relatively short residence in this new country and without any command of its language not long ago, was considered a mission impossible by many. But I was young and ambitious to undertake something – not because it would be easy. As a first generation Chinese migrant in the Netherlands, my deep interest in languages, societies and identities has driven me to work on this topic. Two years later, I was authorized as a certified translator Dutch, Chinese and English. Today, not only have I finished the Dutch Master study, but I am also finishing my PhD work. Without Sjaak’s academic guidance, trust and confidence in me, I would not have been able to reach this phase. Despite his heavy responsibility of leading the department of Culture Studies from one reorganization to another in the last couple of years, he has invested a good deal of time in my research. I also owe a deep gratitude to Professor Jan Blommaert. It was a true privilege to have him as my supervisor. His invaluable input, kindness and spirit have been a constant source of inspiration. Without Jan and Sjaak, this book would have not reached its present form. Their supervision went beyond the duties of professional guidance: not only did they care about my academic achievements, but also about my physical and emotional well-being in life. Their work, kindness and generosity have inspired me as an academic and as a human being. During my visits to the Netherlands while I was living in Shanghai, they and their families offered me nice stays in their homes. These are also wonderful memories on my PhD journey. The 2 Chineseness as a Moving Target same thankfulness goes to Professor Ad Backus, who also offered me the comfort of his home, even while he was traveling himself; thank you for your kindness and friendship. I am incredibly indebted to Dr. Kasper Juffermans, who has provided useful input, guidance and help in the first two years of my PhD. We co-authored internal research reports, book chapters and journal articles. I want to thank Kasper for his insightful comments, suggestions and the good deal of time he spent on my study. The School of Humanities and the Babylon Center have provided me with an extremely stimulating academic environment to work in. I am also grateful for having been part of the HERA project. It was a great experience working with distinguished scholars and colleagues from the UK and other parts of Europe on the IDII4EMS project. I would like to express my thanks to Professor Adrian Blackledge, the project leader, and Professor Angela Creese, for inspiring me with their ideas during the summer school and many project meetings at the University of Birmingham. The same goes for Professor Marilyn Martin-Jones, Professor Normann Jørgensen who has sadly passed away in 2015, Professor Jarmo Lainio, Dr. Anu Muhonen, and other members of the project. I am grateful to have had opportunities to present the results of this research at numerous international conferences across different continents. During the years at Tilburg University, I was surrounded by very friendly colleagues who were always ready to discuss my research and help with other issues in life. In the various stages of the research project and writing period, Jef Van der Aa, Piia Varis, Kutlay Yagmur, Paul Mutsaers, Jeanne Kurvers, Danielle Boon, Pelin Onar, Tom van Nuenen, Gu Yan, Ted Nie, among many others whom I found myself impossible to list in this limited space, have given me enjoyable discussions and have supported me in many different ways. The new head of the department, Professor Odile Heynders, I have enjoyed the nice talks with you in the corridor.