‘Fuzzy’ Chinese: The status of Cantonese in Hong Kong (original) (raw)

This paper addresses the changing status of Cantonese in the public perception of Hong Kong. The approach of 1997, the year when Hong Kong will be handed back to China, will mark the beginning of the official presence of Putonghua, which so far plays only a marginal role. The notion of Chinese, which is now used as a generic term in the bracket of an official 'Chinese-English' situation, will have to be specified in terms of domains reserved for Putonghua and Cantonese. A major issue will be how Putonghua will be introduced in schools, as a medium of instruction (as English is now) or as a second language. The issue is blurred, as the Putonghua norm is already taught as the norm of the written code (Modern Standard Chinese), even though the,. pronunciation is Cantonese. Examples of classroom discourse are provided. The paper concludes with some considerations of language prospects within the changing political landscape of China.