Asst. Prof. Li Nguyen awarded MOE AcRF Tier 1 Grant
Assistant Professor Li Nguyen has been awarded the MOE AcRF Tier 1 Grant (Call 1/2025) for her research project Signs of the Times: Da Nang’s Languages and the Pulse of Internationalisation in Southeast Asia.
Congratulations, Prof Li!
Abstract:
This project explores how Da Nang’s language landscape is changing as the city grows into a major tourism and business hub in Southeast Asia. Moving beyond English, it examines the rising influence of languages like Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. The research focuses on: (i) the linguistic landscape, (ii) language variation and change from language contact, and (iii) local perceptions and attitudes. Through interviews and fieldwork with residents and business owners, it reveals how language use reflects Da Nang’s international growth. Challenging the notion that English alone drives internationalisation, the study offers new insights into regional multilingualism, comparing Da Nang with cities like Singapore. Findings will contribute to a larger research project on language change across Southeast Asia.
