The Background to Language Change in Hong Kong

Abstract

This paper gives the background to language change in Hong Kong. It surveys the great changes that have taken place over the last 50 years and it situates Hong Kong as the greatest of Cantonese cities. This approach makes apparent how fast and how much Hong Kong has changed and is changing demographically, economically, politically, socially and technologically. Because language and at least four of these five aspects are interwoven, the need to deal with language in Hong Kong has been inescapable even if its manifestations were often unpredictable. The paper also reminds the reader of the greater context, showing some of the complex exchange networks that bind the Cantonese language community and making clear Hong Kong's central position in intra-Chinese relations.