Hong Kong English : An English Variation Investigation by Crystal Ching https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3 en-us 2025-08-11 16:32:44 UTC 2025-08-12 01:04:51 UTC hello@padlet.com cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540608809 Dating back to Hong Kong being colonized by the British from 1842 to 1997, the Opium War between Britain and China was the start of Hong Kong English. The Opium War started because Britain was illegally trading Opium in China, which caused China to worry about the economic and social effects. The Opium War resulted in China signing the Treaty of Nanking, an agreement to end the war and surrender the Hong Kong territory to Britain as the accessibility port in trading with China.


]]> 2025-08-11 17:07:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540608809 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540609507 During the colonized period, English-speaking traders in Hong Kong consisted of people in Hong Kong from places like East India, England and Scotland, and America. This was the first exposure to English and Western culture.

]]> 2025-08-11 17:08:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540609507 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540617334 Cantonese and English are the official languages found in Hong Kong. English is considered to be the second most prominent language used. After 1997, Hong Kong became what is known as the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" (HK SAR). This resulted in China having a “One Country, Two Systems” policy. This policy meant that Hong Kong is geographically in the same country as China, but it implements a different government and system. Rather, it decided to become its own democratic society. As a result of this change, big reforms occurred, like education reform in 2000 ensured the learning of Mandarin (the native language of China), Cantonese, and English.

]]> 2025-08-11 17:21:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540617334 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540621346 Before the education reform, English classes in Hong Kong were more teacher-centered, focused mainly on grammar, and lacked opportunities to use and reinforce English. Students learned English through the traditional "lectures" and "pencil and paper."

]]> 2025-08-11 17:27:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540621346 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540625048 English was associated with Western culture and was perceived as a sign of societal success. Students were motivated to learn English just to pass examinations, get into higher education, and as an opportunity for higher-paying jobs. A lot of parents also acknowledged that learning English was the "gateway" to their successful future.

]]> 2025-08-11 17:34:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540625048 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540635261 There are still ongoing discussions about English being a part of the cultural identity of the citizens of Hong Kong. "Code-mixing" is the term that was created and is prevalent in Hong Kong. It refers to a person who is neither Western nor Chinese, but a balance of both cultures.

]]> 2025-08-11 17:52:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540635261 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540639496 However, some citizens of Hong Kong still believe that the use of English in a social setting is not appropriate. They believe that English should only be used in an academic and professional setting. This is because citizens are trying to preserve Cantonese as a main factor of Hong Kong culture, and English is just a tool for their academics and profession.

]]> 2025-08-11 18:00:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540639496 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540640971 Hong Kong has elements that reflect a blend of Chinese-Western culture. The use and understanding of the English language is one of them.

]]> 2025-08-11 18:03:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540640971 Vowel Sounds cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540659650 There are differences in some vowel sounds:

  • /i/

  • /I/

  • Both sound like /I/

  • "Heat" -> "Hit"


]]> 2025-08-11 18:36:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540659650 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540660360

  • /e/

  • /æ/

  • Both sound like /æ/

  • "Head" -> "had"

    • ]]>     2025-08-11 18:37:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540660360     Most noticeable differences: Fricatives cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540668230

  • /z/ -> /s/ ("Zeal" -> "Seal")

  • /ʒ/ -> /ʃ/ ("Pleasure" -> "Pressure")

  • /v/ -> /w/ ("Advertise" -> 'Adwertise")


    • ]]>     2025-08-11 18:51:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540668230     Interchange of sounds cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540676210

  • interchange of /l/ and /r/ -> "fry" -> "fly

  • interchange of /l/ -> /n/ -> "let" -> "net"

    • ]]>     2025-08-11 19:05:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540676210     Pronunciation Patterns cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540679055

  • /θ/ -> /f/

  • "Three" -> "Free"


    • /ð/ -> /d/

    • "That" -> "Dat'

    ]]>     2025-08-11 19:11:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540679055     Lexical components cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540679687 Hong Kong English words are found to be borrowed from other languages, like:

    • "Chinglish" (Both English and Chinese)

    • Cantonese/Mandarin

    • "Amah" - a woman who takes care of the house (housewife) -> Taken from Portuguese for "Nurse"

    • Indian

    • Arabic

    ]]>     2025-08-11 19:12:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540679687     Syntax cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540686707

  • Omitting or leaving out articles like "the" and "a"

  • Does not use contractions like "I'm" or "We've"

    - Instead, they use the full form of words like "I am" or "We have"

  • Omits suffixes like -ed, or -ing

    - "He is laugh."

  • Lack of subject-verb agreement

    - "He always go to school every day." -> "He always goes to school every day."

  • Lacking "to be" verbs

    - "I afraid of roller coasters" -> "I am afraid of rollercoasters"

    • ]]>     2025-08-11 19:25:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540686707     cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540700410 According to a Census, it shows that in 2016, 4.3% of Hong Kongers spoke English as their first language, and 48.9% speak English as a second language.

    ]]>     2025-08-11 19:51:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540700410     cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540701897 Hong Kong was ranked in 4th place out of 23 Asia countries and regions in terms of speaking and using English.

    ]]>     2025-08-11 19:54:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540701897     cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540706449 In 1974, English was declared an official language in Hong Kong by the Official Languages Ordinance, marking a shift from the British colonial era to the modern day.

    ]]>     2025-08-11 20:04:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540706449     This is a news channel for Hong Kong. cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540724192 2025-08-11 20:47:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540724192 cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540725018 2025-08-11 20:49:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540725018 Websites cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540726704 Websites:

    1. International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Chart. (n.d.). https://www.ipachart.com/

    2. Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Introduction to Hong Kong English. https://www.oed.com/discover/introduction-to-hong-kong-english/?tl=true

    3. Wu, Y. (2024). Finding Hong Kong's place in the world of English. HKU Business School. https://www.hkubs.hku.hk/research/thought-leadership/hkej-column/finding-hong-kongs-place-in-the-world-of-english/

    ]]>     2025-08-11 20:54:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540726704     Peer-Reviewed Articles cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540727317

  • Wu, Y. (2023). Overview of Hong Kong English and China English. ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385693343_Overview_of_Hong_Kong_English_and_China_English

  • Gube, J. (2011). English and its role in Hong Kong cultural identity. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250917900_English_and_its_role_in_Hong_Kong_cultural_identity

  • Wu, Y. (2023). English Speakers in Hong Kong. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354162495_English_Speakers_in_Hong_Kong

  • Evans, S. (2018). Review of The English Language in Hong Kong: Diachronic and Synchronic Perspectives by Stephen Evans. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/36320096/Review_of_The_English_Language_in_Hong_Kong_Diachronic_and_Synchronic_Perspectives_by_Stephen_Evans

    • ]]>     2025-08-11 20:55:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540727317     Carrie Lam was a former Hong Kong Chief Executive cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540742291 2025-08-11 21:32:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540742291 Sociopolitical Context and History Audio cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540774365 2025-08-11 22:59:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540774365 Ideologies and Perceptions Audio cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540777130 2025-08-11 23:06:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540777130 Phonological, Morphosyntactic, and Lexical Characteristics of Hong Kong English Audio cching2_2 https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540827158 2025-08-12 00:26:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cching2_2/kiigcosnik4b2gl3/wish/3540827158