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Abstract： Based on a survey of almost 300 respondents in Guangzhou with follow-up interviews, the study fi nds that Cantonese is no longer the primary language of the people in Guangzhou, manifesting language shift across generations. Over ninety percent of the people in Guangzhou are bilinguals (or multilinguals). Their positive evaluation towards Cantonese is much higher than Putonghua or English, indicating strong affective and integrated orientation towards this regional language. Nonetheless, more than half of the respondents are pessimistic about the future of Cantonese. It is also found that the attitude towards English is higher than Putonghua and English language education is showing a younger-age tenden cy. Cantonese main tenance is being challenged in certain communities such as those among females, with higher education and immigrants. With reference to the evaluation criteria of ethnolinguistic vitality, Cantonese can be taken as “a strong language under threat and showing some signs of declining vitality”. The paper concludes that Cantonese maintenance relies on the synergy of various aspects of the society. Dialect is a key component of the cultural identity and the values of Cantonese maintenance should be better and fully understood.
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