Human Communication. A Publication of the Pacific and Asian Communication Association. Vol. 13, No. 3, pp.127 – 136. National Pride, Race, Language Use in Interracial Communications with Peers: A Case of Malaysian Youths of 20-25 Years Old

The study examines national pride among youths between the ages of 20-25 years old in Malaysia and determines whether national pride varies by orientation in self-identification (more in nationality or racial identity terms) and language use in interracial communication with peers. The responses of 375 Malays, 238 Chinese and 77 Indian youths were analyzed. It was found that: (i) Malay and Chinese youths who identify self more in nationality terms had higher levels of national pride than those who identify self more in racial identity terms, (ii) Chinese who used mostly national language in their interracial interaction with peers had higher levels of national pride than their counterparts who used mostly English in interracial communication with peers. There was no significant difference in level of national pride by orientation in self-identification and language use in interracial communication with peers for the Indian samples. Interracial Communications with Peers