香港獨立媒體 - Comments for "兩文三語的香港人"

Individual experience is not universal

The above example is actually similiar to those "proud" (or arrogant) Hong Kong Cantonese speakers who could speak "good English" (in their minds at least) even if they are educated in Cantonsee.

But it is for minority of people who could learn this way. For the majority, they have to learn in a particular language+dialect in order to be good enough in that language+dialect.

So, individual proud (or arrogant) experience should not be the rule in setting an education policy for the majority.

Just my 2cents.

Fake-母語教學

The problem is, (please refer to our earlier discussion on the matter of 'Internationalisation of CUHK' for more details) the policy makers then thought of '母語教學' as 'Mandarin as the Medium of Instruction (MMI)' instead of 'Mother Tongue as the Medium of Instruction'.

And frankly, I was educated in Cantonese, and I learn Chinese (the written language)* in Cantonese the whole time, but I have mastered it well and have learnt it SO WELL that I find most Mandarin speakers' Chinese standard is much lower than mine (sorry to be proud, but I am just telling the truth).

The good point about Cantonese is that it is different from the written language, so we learn two languages together, and we have a concept built up in our minds that the written language and the respective spoken language can be so different, which helps us a lot when learning foreign languages (not English, but French for example).

*Please note and remember that there is not a spoken language called 'Chinese', as it is only a written language. The spoken languages/dialects of Chinese includes Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Fukien, etc., etc.

agree

// we place English and Mandarin over the most common speaking Cantonese//

i agree.

yes, hongkongese can speak Cantonese in their daily life. but for the place like business world, English is more important. moreover, since the trade between mainland and hong kong is increasing dramatically, fluent mandarin is also essential.

the behind reason is quite simple, if speaking english and mandrin could create profit, than speaking it.

Making excuse for mean persons

No. I have spoken in "Chinglish" before in English speaking countries. And they are quite "nice" about my misused of words and mispronounciation.

It is actually in Hong Kong that I found that such mean behavior a common place. So don't try to excuse yourself and "think" it is universal.

And being "teased" by others is one of the MAIN reasons why Hong Kongers don't want to practice their English or Putonghua. That is related to this topic.

If you are one of those "mean" persons who like to tease other for their accent, you are just part of the problem, no matter how you call it.

// we place English and Mandarin over the most common speaking Cantonese//

NO WAY! Most Hong Kongers prefer to use Cantonese exclusively, and neglecting any practice in any other language, that is why they are fluent in only one dialect.

not cultural sin.

Hey XOX, have you ever heard the word "chinglish"? This once pejorative word is somehow un-demonized a bit, but it demonstrated that mocking foreigner's language is a universal thing. It takes a long way for people to learn to respect other language speakers. On the other hand, there is no clear distinction between a harmless humour and a mean mock, and there is no need to witch-hunt the so-called "cultural sin" whenever you hear a tease.

It takes a long debate on a subject like that, maybe we can do it in another article. Right now, I don't really believe it is relevant to this article. The true problem here is, due to "practical use", we place English and Mandarin over the most common speaking Cantonese. I have been to other countries, and I know similar things happen.

What we really like to use as our language

Excuse me for typing this in English. My typing in Chinese is slow and painful, even after much practice.

Now, for language.

From observation, Hong Kong people don't like to communicate other than their own dialect. Cantonese is most common dialect but some other dialects are still use in family relations communication.

For English, even after 11-13 years of formal English lessons, young Hong Kongers still don't like to use this language for communication.

Like and dislike play a part in learning too. If all your friends don't like to use English for communication, and worst, laugh at you when you try to speak in English, how could these young people suddenly become fluent in English all of a sudden.

Passing an English Oral exam is not that difficult. But having the "comfort" level to use English as a communication tool is a whole different matter.

Another factor that discouraged people to learn a different language (either English or Putonghua) is that Hong Kong people like to tease others when they don't speak well. That is really "mean" if you think about it.

Some of my friends were teased by Hong Kongers for not speaking well in Cantonese. I do believe that those who tease others for not speaking the right tone are "mean" people. Some of my friends told me that they are not mean, but I disagreed and no need to tell me that it is a "cultural" thing. If it is, it is just a "mean" element of HK culture that should be discouraged.

Now, this kind of teasing come into play when Hong Kong people try to speak in English or Putonghua. No one speak perfectly without practice. So while these Hong Kongers are practicing their English or Putonghua, they faced the same anxiety for being "teased". That discouraged them to practice even further, and what they have learned were loss without the regular practice.

If Hong Kong really want to be fluent in two language and three dialects, they have to learn some manner and stop teasing other people who don't speak with a perfect accent.