Professor, what’s the official language of Hong Kong?
The official language of Hong Kong? Hong Kong has two official languages: Chinese and English. However, what over ninety-five percent of the people ordinarily speak is a Chinese dialect, Cantonese.
If I speak Mandarin with Hong Kong people, will they understand?
It has to do with their level of education. If it’s students or business people, then in general they’ll be able to understand and speak it, though it’s possible they may have a bit of a Cantonese accent. But if it’s older people and the less educated, then it’s quite possible they won’t understand.
Do public schools in Hong Kong teach Mandarin?
Hong Kong practices a policy of native language education, that is, in elementary schools and middle schools they basically use the students’ native language, Cantonese, for instruction. But since Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997, most schools have several hours per week of Mandarin class.
Professor, does Hong Kong use simplified or traditional characters?
In schools in general they teach traditional characters. Books and periodicals outside are in general also printed in traditional characters. However, in the last few years, you see simplified characters a lot more than before.
Professor, could you teach me a few phrases in Cantonese?
Sure! So, repeat after me: “One, two, three.”
“One, two, three.”
“How are you?”
“How are you?”
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” Could I ask what it all means?
Oh, yāt, yih, sàam is “one, two, three.” Néih hóu! is “How are you?” Joigin is “goodbye.”
