The English Language in Hong Kong

Diachronic and Synchronic Perspectives
1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-1-137-50623-8
Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan UK

Buch, Englisch, 136 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 318 g

This book presents an empirically-grounded sociolinguistic history of the English language in Hong Kong in the past 170 years. Using substantial sets of diachronic and synchronic data, it traces the changing status and functions of English in relation to spoken Cantonese, Mandarin and written Chinese in the key domains of government, education and business. The author tracks the rise of English-knowing bilingualism in the city’s Chinese community and explores the evolutionary dynamics of Hong Kong English. He also speculates on the future of English in the territory, particularly after 2047 when the ‘one country, two systems’ framework established by the Sino-British Joint Declaration is dismantled. Researchers and students working in the fields of sociolinguistics, English as a global language, world Englishes, applied linguistics and English-language education will find this book provides valuable information and insights about the uses and users of English in colonial and post-colonial Hong Kong. More generally, it makes a unique contribution to the literature on the diffusion and diversification of English worldwide.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Evans, Stephen

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachpolitik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Soziolinguistik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Historische & Vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft, Sprachtypologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Angewandte Sprachwissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Mehrsprachigkeit

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1: Introduction: Exploring the diffusion and diversification of English.- Chapter 2: Language trends in the organs of government.- Chapter 3: Language policies and practices in education.- Chapter 4: English as a business lingua franca.- Chapter 5: The English-using community.- Chapter 6: The evolutionary dynamics of Hong Kong English.- Chapter 7: Conclusion: Investigating the past, illuminating the present, imagining the future.

Über Autor(innen)

Stephen Evans is a Professor in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China, where he teaches courses in sociolinguistics, English as an international language and ELT syllabus and materials design. He has published widely in the areas of language policy, world Englishes, English for specific purposes and language in education.