Learning English in a Third Space? Malay Students in an English-Speaking University in Malaysia
It has been suggested that the use of English among Malays is constrained by the intertwining of ethnic identity, religion and native language. This study investigated the possibility of a ‘third space’ (Bhabha, 1994) for a group of Malay-speaking English majors in an English-medium university...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/61038/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/61038/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/61038/1/Third%20Space%20RW%20and%20ZP.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/61038/7/Learning%20English%20in%20a%20third%20space%20Malay%20students%20in%20an%20English-Speaking%20University%20in%20Malaysia.docx.pdf |
| Summary: | It has been suggested that the use of English among Malays is constrained by the
intertwining of ethnic identity, religion and native language. This study investigated the
possibility of a ‘third space’ (Bhabha, 1994) for a group of Malay-speaking English majors
in an English-medium university in Malaysia. Using Norton’s (2013) identity approach
to second language acquisition, it found that the participants’ identities as ethnic Malays
and Malay-English speaking bilingual were often conflicted as the broader community
was disinclined to use English. Despite high motivation levels, dominance of the Malay
language curtailed the participants’ investment in English to a great extent. The third space,
when available, was confined to sites that were associated with their formal learning of
English. |
|---|