ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the historical development of the Dungan community in Kazakhstan and the changes in their linguistic practices over time. At the same time, the opening of Kazakhstan's market, migration, new communication technologies and globalization have created new opportunities for the diaspora to maintain their ethnic language and identity. They travel to China for business, tourism and educational purposes and many have access to Chinese mass media via internet, satellite TV, and so on. It examines the language attitudes and linguistic practices of the Dungan community in Kazakhstan. Using data collected through ethnographic interviews and a critical reading of publications by Kazakhstan Dungan community members, the chapter also explores tensions between nationalism and minorization by addressing issues related to multilingualism and identity from the point of view of members of the Dungan community. The Dungan diaspora is one of the oldest in Kazakhstan. It analyzes the identity construction through the lenses of language practices.
