Factors hindering agreement on a common script for the language of academic communication of the Hmong in California
Author(s):
Vangay, Jonas Vang-na
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ed.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : University of California, Davis, 1996.
Pages:
172
Language:
English
Abstract:
Scholars, leaders, and parents within the Hmong community have raised many questions regarding the language of academic communication which includes the system of writing, the dialect employed by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the development of the state tests, and the levels of language proficiency in Hmong. The whole issue of language of academic communication in Hmong is complicated by the many scripts in use in the Hmong society. The purpose of this research was to determine the factors that have hindered agreement on a common script for the language of academic communication of the Hmong in California. The literature review focused on considerable educational, cultural, and socio-political aspects contributing to the difficulties the Hmong have in adopting one written form of Hmong language. The study findings revealed some significant differences in opinion regarding the political and social discrepancies that presented impediments to the selection of a common script. In order of importance, the strongest political and social impediments to this process of selection were the incomplete utilization of the democratic process; the divergent goals of the leaders; the territorial feelings of the countryless, who stake their claims in the socio-political sphere; the disunity among the Hmong, clan members and clan leaders; the low level of education of the Hmong in general; the plethora of new scripts of seemingly equal value; and the autonomy of different religions. Regarding the issue of scripts known by each individual, a vast majority of the respondents (97.7%) reported knowing the Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA). Only 10.2% of them knew Lao script, while 6.6% of them knew Pahawh and 4.5% of them knew Pandau. This research on factors hindering agreement on a common script for the language of academic communication of the Hmong in California will encourage the Hmong themselves to get past the stagnation that has frustrated educational efforts for decades. Awareness of the research findings will assist all interested parties in accelerating the process of settling on one script for use by the Hmong in California, and hopefully for those in the rest of the United States as well.