Current Hmong perceptions of their speaking, reading, and writing ability and cultural values as related to language and cultural maintenance
Author(s):
Xiong-lor, Vicky
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ed.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : California State University, Fresno, 2015.
Pages:
195
Language:
English
Abstract:
The literature showed that one language is lost every 2 weeks, and that by the end of the 21st century, there would only be 100 languages left in the world. The Hmong people are one of the newest refugees from Laos. They came to America 40 years ago. According to Pfeifer, Sullivan, Yang, and Yang (2013), there are about eight million Hmong people worldwide, and 256,430 of them live in the United States. Today, the Hmong students are losing their language at an alarming rate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current perceptions held by Hmong people ages 18 and older about the Hmong language and whether or not it should and could be maintained and passed on to future generations. This study hopes to create awareness in the community and prevent the Hmong language from disappearing from the Ethnologue. A sequential mixed methods design was used to collect the data. Findings showed that respondents perceived the Hmong language as important and would like to see it preserved for future generations.