Factors affecting bilinguals’ language choice in communication: The case of the Khmer ethnic minority in multilingual Vietnam

Abstract

In the rapidly evolving sociolinguistic landscape of multilingual Vietnam, sociolinguistic outcomes for ethnic minorities are framed by a persistent tension between the imperatives of national integration and the desire for cultural preservation. Amidst growing concerns regarding the accelerating rate of language shift, this paper argues that the language choice of ethnic minority bilinguals is not a random act of alternation but a structured behavior that negotiates the maintenance of ethnolinguistic identity against adaptation to the national majority. Addressing a critical empirical gap, this study examines the hierarchy of factors shaping language choice for the Khmer ethnic minority in the Mekong Delta region, questioning whether pragmatic, economic pressures outweigh internal, identity-based motivations. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed a quantitative survey of 508 bilingual participants, triangulated with eight qualitative in-depth interviews. The resulting regression model demonstrated exceptional explanatory power, accounting for 87.0% of the variance (Adjusted R2=.870). A distinct hierarchy emerged: internal factors—specifically cultural identity (β = 0.254), language proficiency (β = 0.212), and language attitudes (β = 0.181)—were the dominant drivers. Crucially, these internal motivators proved significantly more influential than external, pragmatic factors like economic opportunities (β = 0.154). Additionally, findings confirm a diglossic reality where Khmer is prioritized in informal family and religious domains while Vietnamese dominates formal administration. This research moves beyond methodological testing to provide robust quantitative evidence for the social dynamics of language loyalty. It demonstrates that for the Khmer community, ethnolinguistic identity remains the core predictor of language use, offering critical implications for the development of sustainable language policy in Vietnam.

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