Xiaofang Yao
An applied linguist interested in multilingualism, migrant cultures, ethnic minorities and digital humanities
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About Me
About Me
Hello! I am an applied linguist exploring the intersection of language, culture and space, both physical and digital. I currently work as an Assistant Professor in the School of Chinese, the University of Hong Kong. I received my PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Melbourne, specialising in Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, and Migrant Cultural Studies. I am also an Affiliate Research of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society (ADM+S).
My research draws on linguistic ethnography, social semiotics and multimodal discourse analysis to explore how language displays in public spaces are indicative of political ideologies, social relations and cultural values. I am particularly interested languages and cultures related to immigrants and ethnic minorities.
New book published!
New book published!
Publications
Publications
Books:
Yao, X. (2024). Power, Affect and Identity in the Linguistic Landscape: Chinese Communities in Australia and Beyond. Routledge. http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003320593
Journal articles:
Yao, X., McCosker, A., & Kang, Y.-B. (2025). Deepening the data divide: Marginalised perspectives and non-profit priorities in Australian data sharing reforms. Big Data & Society, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517241311585
Yao, X., & Nie, P. (2024). Implicit language policy and ethnic minority migrant community in urban China: The linguistic landscape of “Little Lhasa” in Chengdu. Language Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-023-09685-0
Nie, P., & Yao, X. (2024). Translanguaging in the linguistic landscape: Creative scripts in Yi ethnicity students’ handwritten signs. Applied Linguistics Review. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2023-0274
Shang, G., & Yao, X. (2024). Stylization of history and heritage commodification: The linguistic landscape of refabricated historical streets in Chinese cities. Language & Communication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2024.06.001 (free access to our accepted manuscript here)
Nie, P., & Yao, X. (2024). Tourism, commodification of Dongba script and perceptions of the Naxi minority in the linguistic landscape of Lijiang: A diachronic perspective. Applied Linguistics Review, 15(3), 821–847. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2021-0176
Yao, X., & Xu, S. Z. (2023) (eds.). Crossing borders: A journey towards expanding linguistic landscapes in Asia and Oceania. Sociolinguistic Studies, 17(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.24675
Yao, X. (2023). Commodification or shared ownership? A case study of Chinese communities in the linguistic landscape of Bendigo. Applied Linguistics Review, 14(3), 447-472. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2020-0045
Yao, X. (2023). Metrolingualism in online linguistic landscapes. International Journal of Multilingualism, 20(2), 214–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2021.1887197
Yao, X. (2023). Face masks, materiality, and exclusion in the COVID-19 semiotic landscape. Social Semiotics, 33(5), 1110–1130. https://doi.org/10.1080/10350330.2021.2016032
Yao, X., & Gruba, P. (2022). Power through the semiotic landscape. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 43(5), 373–386. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2020.1737090
Wu, B., & Yao, X. (2022). Leisure Lives and Children’s Play: A Tale of Two Ideals. Leisure Sciences, 17. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2022.2126911
McCosker, A., Yao, X., Albury, K., Maddox, A., Farmer, J., & Stoyanovich, J. (2022). Developing data capability with non-profit organisations using participatory methods. Big Data & Society, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517221099882
Yao, X. (2021). 语言景观研究的理论框架和研究方法 [Theoretical frameworks and research methods of linguistic landscape studies]. Journal of Beijing International Studies University/北京第二外国语学院学报, 04, 101-115. https://doi.org/10.12002/j.bisu.349
Yao, X., & Gruba, P. (2020). A layered investigation of Chinese in the linguistic landscape: A case study of Box Hill, Melbourne. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 43(3), 302-336. http://doi.org/10.1075/aral.18049.yao
Yao, X. (2020). Material narration of nostalgia: The linguistic landscape of a rural township in Australia. Sociolinguistic Studies, 14(1-2), 7-31. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.37218
Book reviews:
Davidson, L., Elder, C., Fan, J., Frost, K., Kelly, B., McNamara, T., Morton, J., Price, S., Storch, N., Thompson, C., Yao, X., & Diskin-Holdaway, C. (2022). Review of the book Language as symbolic power, by C. Kramsch. Applied Linguistics, 43(3), 613–619. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amab027
Yao, X. (2021). Review of the book There isn’t only one way of being Chinese”: Language, culture, and identity in two Chinese community schools, by S. Ganassin. Language and Intercultural Communication, 21(1), 132-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2020.1808426
Yao, X. (2020). Review of the book Posthumanist applied linguistics, by A. Pennycook. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 266, 143-145. http://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2020-2116
Yao, X. (2020). Review of the book Language and subjectivity, by T. McNamara. Sociolinguistic Studies. 14(3), 395–397. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108639606
Yao, X. (2019, October 24). Review of the book Dialogues with ethnography, by J. Blommaert. Linguist List, 30, 4050. https://linguistlist.org/issues/30.4050/
Research reports:
Yao, X., McCosker, A., Albury, K., Maddox, A., & Farmer, J. (2021). Building data capacity in the not-for-profit sector: Interim report. Swinburne University of Technology. https://doi.org/10.26185/ey72-s303
McCosker A., Shaw F., Yao X., Albury K. (2022). A Data Capability Framework for the Not-for-Profit Sector. Swinburne University of Technology. https://doi.org/10.25916/h2s6-r178 (Analysis & Policy Observatory MVPs 2022 - Selection of Most Interesting & Influential Content of the Year)
Research blogs:
Yao, X. (2022, July 12). Creativity and exclusion in China’s COVID-19 linguistic landscapes. Language on the Move. https://www.languageonthemove.com/creativity-and-exclusion-in-chinas-covid-19-linguistic-landscapes/
Most of my publications (author original/accepted version) can be freely accessed on my ResearchGate! Or you can contact me at xiaofang.yao@hku.hk for a PDF copy!
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