LANGUAGE ATTITUDES TOWARD SOUTHERN VIETNAMESE REGIONAL VARIETIES IN SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

This article investigates language attitudes toward the use of Southern Vietnamese regional varieties in social communication. The findings indicate that phonetic variants receive the most positive attitudes, whereas distinctly regional lexical items receive the least positive evaluations. Language attitudes also vary according to gender, age, and educational level. Specifically, male respondents display more positive attitudes than female respondents; participants aged 31–59 exhibit the most positive attitudes, while those under 30 tend to show less positive attitudes. With respect to educational level, respondents with postgraduate education generally hold more positive attitudes, particularly regarding criteria related to comprehensibility and acceptability; respondents with lower educational levels express positive attitudes characterized by familiarity and closeness, whereas those with college or undergraduate education tend to maintain neutral attitudes.