Hong Kong English: A stillborn variety?

English Today ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence T. T. Pang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Dominant Ideology ◽  
Local Variety ◽  
General Acceptance ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
The World ◽  
Linguistic Purism ◽  
Hong Kong English

For a distinctive variety of English to subsist and be acknowledged in Hong Kong, localization is not enough. Indigenization through general acceptance is also necessary, but will not easily be forthcoming, regardless of the claims and assertions of linguists in Hong Kong or elsewhere regarding the existence of a distinctive ‘Hong Kong English’. In addition, Hong Kong teachers of English will not accept or adopt distinctive local usages in their classrooms, regardless of the everyday use of such usages. The sociolinguistic situation is increasingly triglossic, in terms of the three languages Cantonese, Putonghua, and English, each of which has distinct functions in terms of Hong Kong, mainland China, and the world at large. A dominant ideology of linguistic purism impels people to seek outside standards with regard to both English and Putonghua, and to deny that there is a viable local variety of English, despite the length of time that the language has been used in Hong Kong.

Factors affecting the acceptability of grammatical features of Hong Kong English

English Today ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawnea Sum Pok Ting ◽  
Janice Wing Sze Wong
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Local Features ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Local Variety ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Independent Varieties ◽  
Hong Kong English ◽  
The City

Although a large number of varieties of English in Asia have gained recognition as independent varieties, this has not been the case for Hong Kong English (HKE) (Jenkins, 2015: 162). The city has a low level of affiliation towards HKE (Jenkins, 2015: 167) and often laments its ever-falling standard of English (Leung, 2015). There exists a phenomenon of ‘linguistic schizophrenia’ – the community may recognise that a local variety of English exists and conform to its features in practice, but it still looks to native varieties as the norm and views local features as evidence of deteriorating language standards (Kachru, 1983: 118).

scholarly journals Intonation in Hong Kong English and Guangzhou Cantonese-accented English: A Phonetic Comparison

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 724
Author(s):  
Yunyun Ran ◽  
Jeroen Van De Weijer ◽  
Marjoleine Sloos
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Language Variety ◽  
Accented English ◽  
Hong Kong English

Hong Kong English is to a certain extent a standardized English variety spoken in a bilingual (English-Cantonese) context. In this article we compare this (native) variety with English as a foreign language spoken by other Cantonese speakers, viz. learners of English in Guangzhou (mainland China). We examine whether the notion of standardization is relevant for intonation in this case and thus whether Hong Kong English is different from Cantonese English in a wider perspective, or whether it is justified to treat Hong Kong English and Cantonese English as the same variety (as far as intonation is concerned). We present a comparison between intonational contours of different sentence types in the two varieties, and show that they are very similar. This shows that, in this respect, a learned foreign-language variety can resemble a native variety to a great extent.

Encountering Unfamiliar Educational Practices Abroad

2016 ◽  
pp. 137-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Jane Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
The World ◽  
Mobility Programs ◽  
Hong Kong Sar ◽  
Macau Sar

As internationalization efforts intensify across the globe, the number of students who are studying outside their home country for part of their tertiary education has increased significantly. The vast majority of students from East Asian nations (Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea, Macau SAR, Mainland China, and Taiwan) study in a second language while abroad, with English the most common medium-of-instruction. As institutions of Higher Education (HE) in other regions compete for students from this part of the world, increasingly, questions are being raised about what students gain from outbound mobility programs. Scholars have drawn attention to the need for systematic empirical research that critically examines the experiences of student sojourners in order to determine the most effective ways to support and enhance their learning (e.g., linguistic, cognitive, social, academic, (inter)cultural, and professional).

Environmental Philanthropy and Civic Engagement: a Comparison of Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-364
Author(s):  
Wenjuan Zheng (郑文娟) ◽  
Zhenxiang Chen (陈臻祥) ◽  
Paul Ong (邓道明)
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
World Value Survey ◽  
Environmental Behaviors ◽  
The World ◽  
Structural Differences

Abstract Using the data from the World Value Survey, this paper uses a comparative lens to assess environmental philanthropy by focusing on four predominantly Chinese societies – mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, which contributes to the debate on whether culture can sufficiently explain cross-regional variation in civic engagement, particularly in the domain of environmental philanthropy. We find that residents in mainland China shared similar environmental concerns and beliefs with people from the other regions, but they are least likely to volunteer, donate, and demonstrate for these causes. After accounting for personal characteristics, the sizeable interregional gaps on pro-environmental behaviors remain. These findings are consistent with the argument that structural differences, particularly the developing nature of civil society in mainland China, hinders environmental civic engagement.

World Englishes, English as a Lingua Franca, and the case of Hong Kong English

English Today ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Sewell
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
The World ◽  
English Pronunciation ◽  
Hong Kong English

ABSTRACTPerspectives from both World Englishes (WE) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) can assist in the description of Hong Kong English phonology. Mario Saraceni's article (English Today 94) provides some useful insights into the current debates about English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). His discussion of the background to this debate identifies three viewpoints: a traditional ENL view with its adherence to native-speaker models; the WE (World Englishes) paradigm with its ‘pluralised and pluricentric view of English in the world’; and the emerging ELF position, with its rejection of native-speaker norms in favour of ‘endonormative realisations of lingua franca varieties’ (Alessa Cogo, English Today 95). However, Cogo believes that the second and third positions are not separate paradigms, and that ELF sits ‘comfortably within a WE framework’, as claimed by Jenkins (2007:17). In this article, I would like to show how the two positions can work together to inform pedagogy by exploring the possible options for English pronunciation models in Hong Kong.

Lexical traps in Hong Kong English

English Today ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Groves ◽  
Hei Tao Chan
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Common Core ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Language Attitudes ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Local Setting ◽  
The World ◽  
The Common ◽  
Semantic Shift ◽  
Hong Kong English

Despite a large and growing literature on Hong Kong English (HKE), few studies have been conducted on its emerging language features, particularly its grammar or vocabulary. According to Gisborne (2009), studies on HKE to date have focused on language attitudes, code-switching, learner errors, and the local accent. A quick review of the research on vocabulary reveals that even those studies with a specific lexical focus have tended to be fairly limited in scope, focusing on borrowing, politicized expressions and localized vocabulary. Additionally, by their nature, these studies have tended to only cover vocabulary items that are unique and obviously have a different meaning in the local setting. In particular, there is a noticeable dearth of in-depth studies on semantic shift, in particular extensions or adaptations of meaning for simple words or phrases which are taken for granted as being at the common core of English varieties throughout the world. This kind of usage is more likely to cause comprehension difficulties than the more-often studied borrowings or coinages, simply because it might not be apparent to either a native speaker or a Hong Kong speaker that there is a difference in meaning when it comes to the Hong Kong terms used, and therefore there is a greater potential for misunderstanding.

scholarly journals Prospects of Machine Translation in the Chinese Context

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duoxiu Qian
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Machine Translation ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
The State ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Commercial Software ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
The World ◽  
Historical Sketch

Abstract China has been among the several leading countries in the research and applications of Machine Translation (MT) and Machine-aided Translation (MAT) ever since the 1950s. The first part of this paper is a historical sketch of MT and MAT in the Chinese context, highlighting some important stages in its development which have laid the foundation for later achievements. It is shown that the research of MT in this region is similar to that in other parts of the world, with the attention gradually turning to MAT. The second part deals with the state of the art of MT and MAT research and applications in Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, respectively. Then popular commercial software dedicated to the translation from Chinese into other foreign languages, and vice versa, are introduced, with an appraisal of both their merits and demerits. Finally, prospects of MT and MAT in the Chinese context is discussed. It is suggested that, for mutual benefits, MT and MAT research in the Chinese context should cooperate with the outside world more closely.

scholarly journals Dynamic Changes in Maritime Research Capability in Chinese Universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Tae Chang ◽  
Ahhyun Jo ◽  
Kyoung-Suk Choi
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Maritime Transportation ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Impact Score ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
The World ◽  
Weighted Score ◽  
The Impact ◽  
World Ranking

This study determines the top fifty authors in China and their university affiliations in the maritime transportation field, compared to their world ranking. We refer to China in the broad sense of the Chinese economies, including not only mainland China and Hong Kong, but also Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Singapore. This study analyzes sixty-five SSCI and SCI journals in the field of maritime and transportation between the years 2000 and 2015. In terms of ranking, three indicators are employed: total number of articles, weighted score (indication of author contribution), and the impact score. With the exception of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, no other universities selected in the first phase of Project 985, which received billions of dollars in government support/aid, were listed in the world ranking. Star authors are deemed to have contributed greatly to the rankings of their affiliated universities. The future of China’s rankings is bright in view of the increasing number of papers being published by Chinese authors and universities and their strong grounding in quantitative methodologies.

The relevance of spoken features in English as a foreign language (EFL)

English Today ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Manfred Markus
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Spoken Word ◽  
Large Majority ◽  
World Language ◽  
Local Variety ◽  
The World

ABSTRACTAn analysis of the need for attention to the spoken word and phonetics in the teaching of English world-wide. It is a truism that English is increasingly becoming a world language. Even in China a ‘craze for English’ has been, in view of the fact that over 200 million children (about 20% of all children in the world) now1 learn English in Chinese schools. McArthur has estimated that c.250 million Indians use English every day. All these speakers of English use it their own way. This localisation of English has been variously detected, for example in Hong Kong. It is also well known from versions of African English and, in fact, from most English varieties that have been attributed to the ‘Outer’ or ‘Extended. However, as early as 1983 Kachru voiced a caveat: ‘A large majority of the non-native speakers of institutionalised varieties of English use a local variety of English, but when told so, they are hesitant to accept the fact’.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document