Language Attitudes in Hong Kong: Regional Identity, Trilingualism, and Sociopolitical Movements

Abstract

The present study investigates changes in language attitudes toward Cantonese, English, and Putonghua in Hong Kong over the twenty-three years after the U.K’s political handover of the region to China. This study also scrutinizes the relationships between language attitudes and other related factors. To this end, a questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews were carried out in Hong Kong during the pro-democracy protests. The results indicate that Hongkongers have firmly sustained the status of Cantonese as their heritage language. They are highly inclined to use English as well, whereas Putonghua was rated the lowest. This article claims that language attitudes in Hong Kong were deeply intertwined with local identity and sociopolitical movements against the power from mainland China. (Chonnam National University)