Adams Bodomo

The African Trading Community in Guangzhou: An Emerging Bridge for Africa–China Relations *

This article analyses an emerging African trading community in Guangzhou, China. It is argued that migrant communities such as this one act as linguistic, cultural and economic bridges between their source communities and their host communities, even in the midst of tensions created by incidents such as immigration restrictions and irregularities. Socio-linguistic and socio-cultural profiles of this community are built, through questionnaire surveys and interviews, to address issues such as why Africans go to Guangzhou, which African countries are represented, what languages are spoken there, how communication takes place between Africans and Chinese, what socio-economic contributions Africans in Guangzhou are making to the Chinese economy, and how the state reacts to this African presence. Following from the argument that this community acts as a bridge for Africa–China relations it is suggested that both the Chinese and the African governments should work towards eliminating the harassment of members in this community by many Guangzhou law enforcement officials and instead harness the contributions of this community to promote Africa–China socio-economic relations.

Computer-Mediated Communication for Linguistics and Literacy: Technology and Natural Language Education

Due to the complex diversity and multi-disciplinary nature of computer-mediated communication, a reference source solely dedicated to the subjects direct influence on literacy and language becomes imperative among educators. Computer-Mediated Communication for Linguistics and Literacy: Technology and Natural Language Education fills a void within research due to its clear and direct focus on the interactions between human language and communication technologies. Containing extensive research and analysis, this authoritative collection examines the practical implications and applications of how computers can be used to process natural languages for the design of communication systems and devices.

We are what we eat: food in the process of community formation and identity shaping among African traders in Guangzhou and Yiwu

Abstract In this paper we analyze two African communities in Guangzhou and Yiwu, China, arguing that among Guangzhou Africans on the one hand, Black Africans, particularly West Africans, have a tighter community and interact more with each other than Black Africans in Yiwu. On the other hand, Maghrebian Africans in Yiwu have a tighter community and maintain a more cohesive interaction than their counterparts in Guangzhou. Evidence for this characterization of the communities comes from food and communal food-eating habits. There are hardly any West African restaurants in Yiwu while there is an abundance of West African and other Black African restaurants in Guangzhou where there is more community patronage. In contrast, there are more concentrations of North African restaurants in Yiwu than in Guangzhou. We discuss the crucial role food and food-making and eating places play in providing structures and avenues for community bonding to promote community formation and community identity shaping.

From Guangzhou to Yiwu: Emerging facets of the African Diaspora in China

ABSTRACT Yiwu, known as the largest commodities market in China and in the world, is becoming the destination of choice for Africans doing business in China. In this article we compare how Africans are received in Yiwu and Guangzhou, home to the largest community of Africans in China. We argue that the relatively negative reception of Africans in Guangzhou, compared to the more efficient and civil treatment of Africans in Yiwu, is one reason why Yiwu is eclipsing Guangzhou. How the state interfaces with Africans on migration matters has consequences for broader Africa-China relations.

Language Matters: The Role of Linguistic Identity in the Establishment of the Lusophone African Community in Macau

In this article we present results of a qualitative study of Africans in Macau, as part of the general phenomenon of African migration into China in the 21st century. We focus on the African community from Portuguese-speaking countries in Macau, outlining its internal organisation, memberships, objectives, and activities. The results of this study indicate that this African community is the most established and the best organised African community in China. We argue that the common linguistic identity between members of this community and with other Portuguese speakers is a major factor in its relative success. This argumentation is anchored in our cross-cultural theory of community identity building, where factors such as commonality of language, food, and music play important roles in community bonding and community identity building among migrant groupings in cross-linguistic and cross-cultural settings.

Health Care Experiences and Perceived Barriers to Health Care Access: A Qualitative Study Among African Migrants in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

Guangzhou, one of China’s largest cities and a main trading port in South China, has attracted many African businessmen and traders migrating to the city for financial gains. Previous research has explored the cultural and economic roles of this newly emerging population; however, little is known about their health care experiences while in China. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used to assess health care experiences and perceived barriers to health care access among African migrants in Guangzhou, China. Overall, African migrants experienced various barriers to accessing health care and were dissatisfied with local health services. The principal barriers to care reported included affordability, legal issues, language barriers, and cultural differences. Facing multiple barriers, African migrants have limited access to care in Guangzhou. Local health settings are not accustomed to the African migrant population, suggesting that providing linguistically and culturally appropriate services may improve access to care for the migrants.

Overcoming barriers to health-care access: A qualitative study among African migrants in Guangzhou, China.

ABSTRACT Guangzhou is Chinas third most populous city, and the regions burgeoning manufacturing economy has attracted many young African businessmen and entrepreneurs to the city. The aims of this study were to examine strategies that African migrants in Guangzhou have adopted in response to health-care barriers, and explore their perceptions of how to address their needs. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted among African migrants residing in Guangzhou, China. Facing multiple barriers to care, African migrants have adopted a number of suboptimal and unsustainable approaches to access health care. These included: using their Chinese friends or partners as interpreters, self-medicating, using personal connections to medical doctors, and travelling to home countries or countries that offer English-speaking doctors for health care. Health-care providers and health organisations in Guangzhou have not yet acquired sufficient cultural competence to address the needs of African migrants residing in the city. Introducing linguistically and culturally competent health-care services in communities concentrated with African migrants may better serve the population. With the growing international migration to China, it is essential to develop sustainable approaches to improving health-care access for international migrants, particularly those who are marginalised.

Constructing a Conversational Learning Community: A Case Study of Knowledge Construction and Interactivity Enhancement in Web-based Learning and Teaching

In this paper we propose a learning model, The Conversational Learning Community that we have been developing mostly through web-based course activities (e.g., (2,3)). We show that the core features of this learning model involve strategies to manage knowledge and enhance user interaction of the world-wide web, particularly instructional interactivity. We identify three main types of instructional interactivity: learner- learner, learner-instructor, and learner-resource. We then argue that the most important feature embedded within the Blackboard WebCT platform, an online proprietary virtual learning system, on which we develop our model that can be exploited for achieving interactivity and eventually knowledge construction, is the Discussion forum. As empirical evidence for this argument we present a report of activities from a recently taught course on Language and Information Technology. The report shows that of all the sections within the WebCT platform such as Course Notes, Glossary, Quiz Section, Presentation Forum, etc., the Discussion forum was by far the most patronized by students. We also propose certain facilitative measures that various agents within the Blackboard WebCT platform knowledge management group (as well as other learning platforms), such as technical support staff, can do to enhance the use of online learning tools like Blackboard WebCT for achieving an interactive learning community for knowledge construction such as the Conversational Learning Community that we have developed over the years.

Documentation and Revitalization of the Zhuang Language and Culture of Southwestern China through Linguistic Fieldwork.

This article outlines innovative strategies, methods, and techniques for the documentation and revitalization of Zhuang language and culture through linguistic fieldwork. Zhuang, a Tai–Kadai language spoken mainly in the rural areas of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southwestern China, is the largest minority language in China, with about 20 million speakers. Although Zhuang is not in danger of dying out in the foreseeable future, it is indeed an endangered language, given that language shift is occurring in which more and more Zhuang children, especially those born in the cities, are picking up Putonghua, rather than Zhuang, as their most proficient language. Efforts, such as reported in this article, must be made to document and revitalize the language.

Documenting Spoken and Sung Texts of the Dagaaba of West Africa

This article discusses a documentation of spoken texts, sung texts, and dances of the Dagaaba , a mainly oral West African cultural group based on actua l interdisciplinary linguistic and musicological field research within the group. The importance of this documentation lies in the fact that tr aditional oral cultures are fast disappearing among some sections of such societies in the face of a ruthless process of globalization. The article outlines the socio-cultural organization of the communities investigated, gives a succinct description of the structu re of Dagaare , language of the Dagaaba , and describes the structure of bawaa, their main dance, before analyzing transcriptions of a representative sample of spoken a nd sung folktales with comments on the thought systems and world-views emanating from these texts.