Because of COVID-19, the recording of this podcast could not be done in a studio environment. This does at times affect the sound quality.
A Presentation of Hong Kong English
Talk:
Work with a partner or in a group. Discuss the questions and write down your answers in a shared document.
When and how did Alex learn English?
According to Alex, why is it important to know English in Hong Kong?
Alex and Nicholas have never heard of Konglish. In which Asian-speaking country will you find Konglish? (Do a quick Google search if you don't know) Also, what is Chinglish and Singlish?
In the middle of the interview, Alex code switches from standard English to Cantonese English. How does his intonation and pronunciation change, and why does this happen?
According to Anne Dahl, what happens when you have two languages living side by side, like Cantonese and English?
India is one of the largest English-speaking countries in Asia. Find out how many people speak English in India. Why is English still so important here?
According to Anne Dahl, how are Asian English speakers portrayed in films and popular culture? Do you agree with her? How does Alex feel about the way Asian characters are portrayed?
Research:
Hong Kong was a colony and dependent territory of the British Empire from 1841 to 1997, and this is the reason why English is such an integrated part of Hong Kong society. In 1997, Hong Kong was handed back to the Chinese government. However, this has not been a smooth transition.
Research the following two tasks, gather as much information you can, and discuss your results in class or in a group.