Andrew Wong, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology, Director of Global Studies Program
Expertise
Language politics, Language and the media, Language, gender, and sexuality, Branding and advertising, China and Hong Kong
Languages spoken besides English
- Cantonese (native)
- Mandarin (advanced)
- French (intermediate)
- Italian (beginner)
- Spanish (beginner)
- German (beginner)
- Dutch (beginner)
- Japanese (beginner)
Biography
My research focuses on the ways in which ideologies materialize in and through language. Using ethnographic, sociolinguistic, and experimental methods, I have examined the role of ideology in semantic variation and change, the relationship between genre and social change, and the creative use of unconventional spelling in brand names. My current project explores how the ongoing conflict between Hong Kong and mainland China is being played out on the terrain of language. I am also interested in the applications of linguistic anthropology in marketing and advertising (particularly, brand name development). I previously worked at , where I oversaw its global linguistic and cultural evaluation program.