Throughout the history of Hong Kong's development, the language policy of moving from "biliteracy" to "biliteracy and trilingualism" has always been the main theme of social evolution.
During the colonial period, the British Hong Kong government ostensibly focused on "two languages", but intentionally or unconsciously "emphasized English and suppressed Chinese." In essence, it regarded Chinese and English as opposed to each other. Although the people had initiated social movements for the status of Chinese, it was difficult to change it. The "hegemony" of English as an elite language.
After the reunification, Hong Kong entered the era of "biliteracy and trilingualism", that is, writing in Chinese and English, and using Cantonese, Mandarin and English as spoken languages. However, to this day, the status of "English" is still high and the policy goal of "Chinese" But it is still vague and even involved in the politicization whirlpool time and time again.
In this way, the people of Hong Kong are drifting between the three languages, unable to say what the "mother tongue" is, nor can they know who the "foreign language" is. They only rely on political stances to find a foothold-but this should not be "two writings and three writings." The original intention of "language" should not be the effect that Hong Kong's language policy hopes to achieve.
"Hong Kong 01" has a dialogue with many experts including Emeritus Professor Zheng Yanxiang of The Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Shi Zhongmou of the Department of Chinese Languages of The Education University of Hong Kong, Assistant Professor Liang Huimin of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Li Xiaoying, Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers. In the past and present of "biliteracy and trilingualism", rethinking what kind of language policy Hong Kong needs.
Part 6 of the "Reflection on Biliteracy and Trilingualism" series of reports
After the return of Hong Kong, the SAR government has implemented a "two-literature and three-lingual" policy, but the actual effect is that it "emphasizes English rather than Chinese."
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For details, please read the in-depth report "
Hong Kong People's Language Drifting-"Bilingual and Trilingual" becomes "Engagement over Chinese
" in the 289th issue of "Hong Kong 01" electronic weekly newsletter published on November 1, 2021
.
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