Mandarin Acquisition and Sociolinguistic Adaptation Among Chinese-Vietnamese Immigrants in Taiwan

Chinese-Vietnamese immigrants in Taiwan provide a unique population for examining second language development and social adaptation, given their prior exposure to Chinese literacy and Cantonese. While research on bilingual and multilingual immigrant learners is extensive, the challenges associated with partial literacy in the target language remain underexplored. This study investigates how pre-migration literacy in Chinese characters shapes Mandarin acquisition and integration into Taiwanese society. Based on in-depth interviews with 28 Chinese-Vietnamese immigrants in Taipei’s Wenshan District, recruited through community networks, the study explores their linguistic backgrounds, family language practices and integration experiences. Findings indicate that pre-migration literacy in Chinese characters facilitates Mandarin acquisition, particularly in reading and writing, while listening and speaking proficiency varies among individuals. A pattern of intergenerational language shift toward Mandarin was evident, as first-generation immigrant children generally acquired Mandarin as their dominant language, gradually replacing the use of Cantonese and Vietnamese. The study also highlights the role of social networks in language learning, with the Overseas Chinese community forming a more cohesive linguistic and cultural support compared to other Southeast Asian immigrant groups. By understanding the complex role of prior linguistic and second language development, this study contributes to research on immigrant language learning, multilingualism and language policy. It also provides valuable insights into the discussion of sociolinguistic environments on language maintenance, shift, and integration in Taiwan.