The English Language in Hong Kong: Diachronic and Synchronic Perspectives

146 Pages·2016·2.647 MB·

by  Stephen Evans (auth.)

THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE IN
HONG KONG
Diachronic and Synchronic
Perspectives
Stephen Evans
The English Language in Hong Kong

Stephen   E vans
The English
Language in
Hong Kong
Diachronic and Synchronic Perspectives
Stephen   Evans
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong
ISBN 978-1-137-50623-8 ISBN 978-1-137-50624-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-50624-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016949377
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For Kerry and Sarah

A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book is based mainly on data from the following General Research
Fund projects funded by the Research Grants Council of the HKSAR:
PolyU 542610 (Chaps. 2 , 5 , and 6 ), PolyU 542412 and PolyU 541413
(Chap. 3 ) , and PolyU 541808 (Chap. 4 ). I am very grateful to The Hong
Kong Polytechnic University for granting me a period of sabbatical leave
in the second half of 2015, during which much of the book was written. I
am also grateful to Professor Ernesto Macaro, Director of the Department
of Education, University of Oxford, for hosting my six-month Visiting
Research Fellowship at my alma mater. I would like to thank the following
colleagues, advisers, and research assistants for their help and encourage-
ment over the years: Winnie Cheng, Chris Chow, Carmen Chu, Alan Davies,
Chris Green, Fiona Ho, Joanna Kwan, Peter Leung, Bruce Morrison,
Martha Pennington, Lorna Tam, Ann Wang, and Martin Warren.
vii

C
ONTENTS
1 Introduction: Exploring the Diffusion
and Diversifi cation of English 1
The Globalisation of English 2
Models and Theories 5
Hong Kong as a Research Setting 8
Studies of English in Hong Kong 10
The Present Study 12
Notes 12
2 Language Trends in the Organs of Government 15
The Changing Status of English 15
The Executive Branch 18
The Legislative Branch 23
The Judicial Branch 26
Notes 30
3 Language Policies and Practices in Education 33
Change and Continuity in Hong Kong’s Education System 33
Language Policies and Practices in the Colonial Era 38
Language Policies and Practices Since the Handover 43
Language Policies and Practices in Higher Education 48
Notes 52
ix