So picture this: whether you are wandering through the bustling streets of Hong Kong or any of the major cities round the world, one element stands out as a unifying force that binds us Hongkongers together: the Cantonese language 廣東話 (Gwong2 Dung1 waa2; all romanisation follows the Jyutping phonetic system). It is not just a way of talking, but also like a badge of honour, a reminder of who we are and where we come from, no matter if we are chilling at home or striking out abroad.
As Hong Kong and its people evolve amid a backdrop of social and political changes, with many of us fanned out across the globe, the status and vibrancy of Cantonese deserve much discussion in terms of the language’s education, preservation, and promotion at an international level.
Despite a gradual encroachment by Mandarin and English over the years, Cantonese continues to thrive. According to the 2023 annual report of the Ethnologue, it ranked 20th in terms of the total number of speakers, more than speakers of Korean or Italian.
As the dominant language in Hong Kong, Cantonese has a distinct tonality and expressive nuances permeating everyday interactions, with a flair that lights up conversations, from gossip in the corner to heart-to-hearts over dim sum. It is not an overreach to call Cantonese spoken by Hongkongers “Hongkongese” or “Heunggongwa” (Hoeng1 Gong2 waa2), as some language naming practices have a political rather than scientific basis.
Hongkongese, technically the Hong Kong regional variety of the formerly common language spoken in China’s Guangdong province, or Canton, is not just a linguistic phenomenon but also a repository of concepts from other cultures. To “blow water” means to shoot the breeze in English, while 課金 (fo3 gam1) refers to micropayment in Japanese. Added to this amalgam is the constant creation of slang to depict local flavours and pop culture, such as the newly coined boyband name “Loong9”, a nod to the Chinese mythical animal dragon.
Hongkongese thus has a whole vibe that brings us Hong Kongers together, regardless of background or political belief. Through its rich oral tradition of folktales, proverbs and idiomatic expressions, not to mention the hip Cantopop culture, Hongkongese summons up collective memories and shared experiences that could be passed down through generations.
Recently I had a long layover at a United States airport, and while waiting in line for food at the airport lounge, I overheard the servers’ lively chat in Cantonese. When it was my turn, I told one of them we shared the same language (同聲同氣, tung4 seng1 tung4 hei3; literally, the same sounds and breath). The server grinned and lavished an extra plate of appetisers on me! I just love how the same language and cultural background can connect strangers in the most unexpected settings.
However, the future of Cantonese is facing headwinds. As Hong Kong grapples with geopolitical tensions and societal changes, the language is under pressure on various fronts, including government policies and academic institutions promoting Mandarin education and the dominance of English in business and academia. Moreover, the rise of digital communication, combined with globalised media, has led to concerns about the erosion of linguistic diversity and the homogenization of speech patterns.
In an increasingly interconnected world, maintaining the distinctiveness of Hong Kong Cantonese poses a formidable task, requiring innovative strategies and collective action from language advocates and policymakers alike.
On the other hand, social media and online forums provide new avenues for linguistic exchange and cultural expression, allowing Hong Kongers and heritage speakers of the language to connect with one another and reaffirm their shared heritage across borders and generations. In fact, we are finding new ways to keep Cantonese thriving in the digital age. New generations of Hongkongese speakers, local and abroad, are developing a sense of urgency and pride in the dynamic language and its culture, actively engaging in its creative use and education.
In the face of changes and uncertainties, one thing remains clear: the resilience of Hongkongese lies in the hearts and minds of those who cherish it as an integral part of their identity and cultural heritage.
Whether through cultural and linguistic initiatives, or simply by sharing stories and memories with one another, let us continue to commit to honouring and preserving the language and culture that unite us as Hong Kongers. I hope this column can serve as a small platform where we can explore the many possibilities of Hongkongese by sharing everything about this Hong Kong language and its cultures and stories.
With that said, I have to confess I am no linguistic authority or cultural expert, but I welcome your comments and input to explore the affordances of Hongkongese. This column will share unique and useful Hongkongese expressions that come with different stories. I personally think Hongkongese is 正到痺 (zeng3 dou3 bei3, terrific)!
