Transcending the Researcher-Researched Divide: Participatory Linguistics Research in Kongish

Abstract

This study explores the transformative impact of participatory research on the conceptualization of Kongish. A hybridized written form comprising a creative blend of Cantonese and English, Kongish is a grassroots media-linguistic phenomenon within the vibrant sociocultural ecology of Hong Kong. Our research aims to evaluate how a participatory methodology—as opposed to traditional researcher-oriented approaches where researchers remain at arm's length with their research subjects—reshapes the understanding of Kongish as well as Hong Kong English (HKE). Using a participatory linguistics framework, this study triangulates data from focus group interviews, individual interviews, and online surveys to explore the reciprocal influences between researchers and participants. The study is organized into two tiers: first, the transformation of participants, and second, the transformation of researchers. Each tier draws on personal narratives to offer distinct insights into real-life encounters with Hong Kong's written vernacular. By integrating the “lived experiences” of both researchers and participants, the study reveals how our interactions continuously influence each other's perceptions of language, language practices, and personal identities.