Looking into the Daily Use of Hakka
Between Generation
Three of the interviewees all pointed out that the use of Hakka is highly related to WHOM you speak with, strongly associated between the generation. “Of course I will use Hakka to talk with my father and uncles, to the elderly generally speaking, but always Cantonese to my brothers”, Apple said. Fat and Yau agreed that they would use Cantonese in talking with the younger generation. They think the young are more “civilized”, being connected closely with the urban city that using Cantonese is more appropriate than using Hakka.
Our groupmate, Vanessa, observed the same phenomenon during the daily interaction between the Hakka and herself. “My Grandpa and uncles use Hakka in talking with my Mum, however they will immediately shift to Cantonese while talking with me. It is so interesting that when my Mum and I are situated in the same circumstance, they will still shift among Hakka and Cantonese at the same time”.
It proves that speak to WHOM is one of the important factor in the language varieties. Since language varieties are full of indexicality, it is meaningful in pointing out the speaker’s origin and social identity. Speaking Hakka, which means CONVERGENCE is carried out, as to reduce the social distance built between one another. On the contrary, distinctiveness is emphasized by using Cantonese. As Hakka is still holding traditional Chinese culture, placing the male in superior to the female, Vanessa is categorized as “outsider” who is with greater social distance. The use of language here clearly pointed out the representation of identity shaping.
Our groupmate, Vanessa, observed the same phenomenon during the daily interaction between the Hakka and herself. “My Grandpa and uncles use Hakka in talking with my Mum, however they will immediately shift to Cantonese while talking with me. It is so interesting that when my Mum and I are situated in the same circumstance, they will still shift among Hakka and Cantonese at the same time”.
It proves that speak to WHOM is one of the important factor in the language varieties. Since language varieties are full of indexicality, it is meaningful in pointing out the speaker’s origin and social identity. Speaking Hakka, which means CONVERGENCE is carried out, as to reduce the social distance built between one another. On the contrary, distinctiveness is emphasized by using Cantonese. As Hakka is still holding traditional Chinese culture, placing the male in superior to the female, Vanessa is categorized as “outsider” who is with greater social distance. The use of language here clearly pointed out the representation of identity shaping.
Education
Fat and Yau pointed out Education is an important factor to shape the differences between generation. “In the old days, we were taught in Hakka, Putonghua and Cantonese”, Yau said. They received education in the village-school, instead of in urban area. However, since the generation of Apple’s, education has become an important issue in Hong Kong while students could receive education mainly in Cantonese and English. It makes Hakka become their “secondary-language” used at home but not at school. “Those who are more educated moved out from the village already. We will code-mix more (with Cantonese) while talking with them, ”, Fat said he used to speak to his nephew when she was young, but using lots of Cantonese now after his nephew moved to Hong Kong Island.
Myers and Scotton (1993) conducted research in East Africa concerning the Bilingual environment, revealing the language choice is highly linked to education. From the response of Fat and Yau, we can further observe that education is related to the change in geographic mobility and economic status, which will change the language accommodation of oneself, so as their identity. |
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