Understanding the language-ideological processes associated with media effects is the centre of the current study. This study explores different kinds of language ideologies prevailing in the media space in contemporary Hong Kong society.
Language ideologies constitute a wide range of issues concerning sociopolitical meanings of language. Compared with language attitude, the notion of language ideology focuses on the collective and sociopolitical level at which belief systems contribute to the structuring logics of power. In recent years, tensions have been growing over language issues in Hong Kong. Behind the "Putonghua-Cantonese controversy" is the interplay between language, culture, power, history and identity. Understanding the language-ideological processes associated with media effects is the centre of the current study. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Silverstein (2003) as well as the model of Ivrine and Gal (2000), the study explores different kinds of language ideologies prevailing in the media space in contemporary Hong Kong society.
