Choreographed Multilingualism: Analysing Language Dynamics in Hong Kong’s Civic Signage

Abstract

<p>This study examines “top-down” sociolinguistic practices in Hong Kong, focusing on how these practices are manifested in civic signage. Grounded in Lee’s (2022) concept of choreographed multilingualism, the paper explores the management of Hong Kong’s linguistic landscape, highlighting how various Chinese varieties and English, the ex-colonial language, are incorporated while navigating power dynamics among them. Choreographed multilingualism, as articulated by Lee, refers to a distinct form of discursive practice that strategically employs multiple languages, negotiating and moderating the power relations inherent in their use. This framework not only elucidates the complexities of language use in civic signage but also highlights the overarching narratives that shape the language policy in Hong Kong.</p><p>Since the exercise of Chinese rule in 1997, the Hong Kong government has actively promoted biliteracy and trilingualism. The Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, designates both Chinese and English as official languages, with English functioning as a secondary official language. The term “Chinese” is ambiguous, lacking clarity on whether it refers to Cantonese, the autochthonous spoken Chinese variety in Hong Kong, or Putonghua, the official language of mainland China. Furthermore, the Basic Law does not specify which orthographic forms are to be used. In public spaces, biliteracy is primarily represented through traditional Chinese characters, the de facto standard Chinese orthography in Hong Kong, which encompass two interconnected writing systems: written Cantonese and standard modern Chinese that adheres to the exonormative norms of Putonghua, alongside English. Cantonese and traditional Chinese characters are viewed as dominant standards for the Chinese language in Hong Kong, while Putonghua and simplified Chinese characters, the standard Chinese orthography in mainland China, occupy non-dominant roles in official communications.</p><p>A qualitative analysis of civic signage across various contexts—including government buildings, transportation hubs, public universities, and residential neighbourhoods—was conducted to ensure a comprehensive view. Each sign was analysed for the languages used, their visibility (prominence and size), and contextual factors. The collected data was analysed, identifying key themes such as language hierarchy, contextual variation, and cultural representation. The findings reveal that despite the government’s promotion of biliteracy, the actual linguistic landscape is far more intricate, characterised by disparities in language visibility and usage. Civic signage reflects this linguistic complexity. Written Cantonese instead of standard modern Chinese is frequently employed in government publicity materials. It prioritises Chinese text over English, except for traffic signs, where English predominates.</p><p>These dynamics reflect a form of pluricentricity, where differing standards exist in “top-down” sociolinguistic practices. A significant implication of Hong Kong’s language policy is that the organisation of languages in public spaces tends to favour one language over the other, leading to an imbalance that impacts language representation and visibility in the public sphere. This study analyses the disparities in language representation across different contexts. It enhances our understanding of choreographed multilingualism as a framework for analysing various Chinese varieties and English in civic signage in Hong Kong in a postcolonial context.<br></p>