Language Selection and Language Socialization of Ethnic Migrants: From a Language Survey of Markets in Multilingual Bhutan

Abstract

Bhutan is a multilingual society with 19 languages. Undergoing rapid modernization, many migrants are flowing from ethnic districts across the country to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The percentage of migrants is approaching 85%. In downtown markets in Thimphu, ethnic languages are used at a high rate, instead of Dzongkha, the language of the host community. This study investigated the use of ethnic languages in a downtown market called the Hong Kong Market, based on the regional characteristics of the market and the relationship between merchants and customers, as well as the language socialization of migrants in Thimphu and their accompanying migration. As a result, firstly, in Thimphu, it was revealed that host merchants acquired their customers’ ethnic language. However, it was a widely used ethnic language (lingua franca), which was not the first language for many migrants from minority language ethnic groups. Secondly, the characteristic language situation in different markets of Thimphu, including Hong Kong Market, was seen to reflect the stage of language socialization of the migrants who gathered in the market. It was also revealed that the language perceptions of merchants and customers within a market community are embodied in such language usage.