A dialect murders another dialect: the case of Hakka in Hong Kong

• Autores: Lau Chun Fat
• Localización: International journal of the sociology of language, ISSN 0165-2516, Nº. 173, 2005, págs. 23-35
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Both Hakka and Cantonese are defined as “Chinese dialects” in China. Before Hong Kong developed into a metropolis, Hakka was the most widespread language spoken by the indigenous inhabitants in the rural area. However, Hakka speakers within the territory have almost completed the shift to Cantonese in the past fifty years. The changing political milieu and the language policy of the colonial government caused its extinction in two generation’s time, when Cantonese was enjoying a quasi ‘‘offcial’’ status in the former British colony. The loss of Hakka speakers was caused by the unwillingness of the parent to talk to their children in their ancestral tongue, who themselves were also shifting to Cantonese. Most people regard Hakka as useless and the rating of their tongue is becoming negative in the younger generations. The Hakka fluency, knowledge of pronunciation and vocabulary decrease with age. The worst thing is that most people do not see ‘‘Hakka’’ as a part of the traditional culture of Hong Kong, but just regard it as a barrier for acquiring Hong Kong identity, which almost equals Cantonese language and culture.