ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book provides a fresh understanding of how English is utilized, at both an official and individual level within contemporary Chinese society. It explores the potential for applying theories of “intersectionality” derived from cultural studies to relevant areas of applied linguistics and sociolinguistics. The book then explores the contemporary politics of English in China today where concerns about the private tutoring of schoolchildren have recently prompted the government to severely regulate tutorial schools throughout the country. It also focuses on the language use of Chinese netizens, where English is often deployed through various strategies of code-mixing and code-switching. The book uses the examples of three celebrities who became well known for their knowledge of English in the decades between the 1980s and the present, explaining how their narratives illustrate the changing role of English in terms of official policies and popular perceptions.
