Analysis: language and identity are key for Chinese migrants when it comes to cross-cultural adaptation in Ireland
One of the largest minority ethnic groups in Ireland, Chinese migrants came here in two main waves. The first wave came from Hong Kong. Members of this group tend to run their own businesses, mostly in the food and catering sector, and most have settled permanently in Ireland. The second wave began in the late 1990s and most were students from the People's Republic of China.
Given the large number of Chinese immigrants living in Ireland, and the increasing volume of trade between Ireland and China, it is interesting to look at the cultural identity of Chinese migrants in Ireland. As a Chinese woman living in Ireland for nearly 18 years, I am inspired to explore other Chinese migrants' cross-cultural experiences in Ireland to see if they had the same kind of journey as mine. Three aspects of their experiences were of particular interest to me: language, identity, and adaptation.
When migrants move from their country of origin to a different country, they meet unfamiliar behaviour, symbols, rules, beliefs and values. It is a challenge to deal with two cultures simultaneously because the home culture and the host culture are both exerting pressure to conform and this often leads to changes in a person’s sense of self and identity. Migrants face the dilemma of cross-cultural adaptation and identity maintenance: should they adapt to the new culture, or should they retain their own culture?
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's The Business, Liam Geraghty reports on Ireland's vibrant Chinese community and asks if it's time for an official Chinatown district around Dublin's Parnell Street East
My own research confirmed that cross-cultural adaptation is a difficult process. Chinese migrants come to Ireland with deeply engrained traditions, such as a strong work ethic and a desire for education. Their experiences tell us that there are setbacks no matter how prepared or motivated they are. These include language barriers and real or perceived discrimination which hinder their cross-cultural adaptation and complicate their sense of belonging in Irish society.
The Chinese migrants I interviewed for my research mentioned being subjected to discrimination both in work and on the streets. Some experienced racial harassment and abuse from youths and teenagers on the streets, while others told of discrimination at school or in the work place. Feeling rejected, these Chinese migrants found that participating in the host culture was a very onerous task.
Many migrants have a tendency to stay among themselves when they first arrive in the host country, thereby making it difficult to learn the host language. This is also true of some Chinese migrants. They socialised entirely with Chinese friends and remained distanced from the host culture due to their poor level of English language skills. This in turn slows down the process of adaptation.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Ray D'Arcy Show, Niall Gibbons of Tourism Ireland discusses a 2015 documentary on Ireland aired to a huge global Chinese audience
On the other hand, some Chinese migrants report that they gradually adjust to the host language and communicate in English relatively well over time in Ireland. Some even speak English with an Irish accent. This enabled increased involvement in the host society and increased self-confidence. Good language skills allow greater access to the host culture and facilitate Chinese migrants’ process of cross-cultural adaptation. Chinese migrants made friends with Irish people, set up their new social networks in Ireland and gained support from within the host community. Overcoming the language barrier is crucial to creating these social networks.
Chinese migrants acknowledge that they have received practical support from Irish society. Some governmental or non-governmental organisations, such as Citizens Information Centre, provide help for migrants including free consultations and interpreting services. Many hospitals in Ireland provide free interpreting services to help patients and this is welcomed by Chinese migrants because it makes their life easier in the host country and helps them to adapt to new life in Ireland.
Most Chinese migrants have an English name and use it at the early stage of migration as a sign of assimilation. However, they feel that their Chinese name is part of the cultural identity which was given by their parents and keep their Chinese names in their later stage of migration. This was a strong signal of their pride in their culture and their ancestry.
We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From Filmbase, award-winning short Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom about a young Chinese man who learns Irish before moving to Ireland
Most Chinese migrants express pride in their Chinese culture and traditions, including Chinese food culture. They mentioned being proud of being Chinese because the reputation and importance of China in the west has been growing steadily. They refer to the increased status of China on the international scene and deprive pride from it.
Self-esteem helped Chinese migrants feel accepted by the people in the host society. Chinese migrants who gain an understanding of the social norms, attitudes and behaviours in the host country feel closer to the host culture. This in turns give them self-confidence to bring their own culture to the attention of Irish people and feel proud of playing the role of an intercultural ambassador.
Most Chinese migrants want to maintain their Chinese cultural identity and heritage, but at the same time they are committed to developing relationships with Irish mainstream society. Successful adaptation results in what specialists call an intercultural identity which allows Chinese migrants to openly appreciate both their own home culture and the new host culture. Overall, most are positive about their experiences of living in Ireland and believe these experiences have broadened their mind as they have became more independent and mature.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
