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.
I'm available to supervise MPhil and PhD students in the areas of sociolinguistics, multilingualism and Chinese studies using ethnographic and digital methods. Please get in touch via xiaofang.yao@hku.hk if you are interested!
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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