Two Languages and Three Dialects
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Hong Kong Guide A Look at Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
Facts and Statistics Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China Population: 7,112,688 (2014 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Chinese 95%, other 5% Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% Language in Hong Kong English and Chinese are Hong Kong's two official languages. The Cantonese dialect is the most commonly spoken language in the territory, though English is the language of the business and service industries; hotel employees, many urban Hong Kong residents, most young people and shop and service personnel understand and speak it to some degree. Other Chinese dialects. such as Mandarin (Putonghua), Shanghainese, and Chiu-Chow can be heard as well. Major hotels have employees with knowledge of other languages, such as French, German, Japanese and Mandarin. Translation services in many languages are also available from major hotels' business centres. Hong Kong Society & Culture The Concept of Face Face is an intangible quality that reflects a person's reputation, dignity, and prestige. You may lose face, save face, or give face to another person. Companies as well as individuals have face and this is often the rationale behind business transactions. You give someone face by complimenting them, showing them respect, or doing anything that increases their self-esteem. Such actions must be done with the utmost sincerity. Doing them in a patronizing manner causes both parties to lose face. Humiliating people by publicly reprimanding them, insulting them publicly, or contradicting them in front of someone else causes them to lose face. Confucianism / Hierarchy / Family Values The teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in Hong Kong Chinese society. Confucianism is a system of behaviours and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship. .Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honour, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity. These traits are demonstrated by the Hong Kong Chinese in their respect for hierarchical relationships. Although not readily apparent to the casual observer, there are strict rules about appropriate behaviour and the manner in which people must act in order to respect the hierarchy. Etiquette and Customs in Hong Kong Meeting and Greeting The handshake is commonly used when greeting westerners. The Hong Kong Chinese handshake is rather light. During the greeting, many Hong Kong Chinese lower their eyes as a sign of respect. There is no need for you to emulate this gesture, although prolonged eye contact should be avoided during the greeting. If you are at a large function, you may introduce yourself to other guests. At smaller functions, it is polite to wait for your host or hostess to introduce you. The Chinese traditionally have 3 names: The surname, or family name is first and is followed by two personal names. The first personal name is their father's name and the second personal name is their own name. Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first name basis, they will advise you which name to use. Some Chinese adopt more western names and may ask you to call them by that name. Gift Giving Etiquette A gift may be refused one or two times before it is accepted. If you are invited to someone's home, bring good quality sweets, fruit, flowers, or imported spirits to the hostess. Do not give red or white flowers. Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils, as they indicate that you want to sever the relationship. Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals, as they are associated with funerals and death. Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper. Gold and red are lucky colours, so they make excellent gift wrapping. Elaborate gift wrapping is important. Do not give odd numbers as many are considered unlucky. Never give a quantity of four items. Eight is a particularly auspicious number, so giving eight of something bestows good fortune on the recipient. A small gift for the children is always appreciated; however, do not give green hats. Always present gifts with two hands. Gifts are not opened when received. Dining Etiquette Table manners are rather relaxed in Hong Kong, although there are certain rules of etiquette. When in doubt, watch what others do and emulate their behaviour. Wait to be told where to sit. There is often a seating plan. Wait for the host to tell you to start eating or for him to begin eating. Food is served on a revolving tray. You should try everything. Never eat the last piece from the serving tray. Burping is considered a compliment. Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak. Always refuse a second serving at least once if you don't want to appear gluttonous. Leave some food in your bowl when you have finished eating. When you have finished eating, place your chopsticks in the chopstick rest or on the table. Do not place your chopsticks across the top of your bowl. The host offers the first toast. You may reciprocate later in the meal. Business Etiquette and Protocol in Hong Kong Building Relationships & Communication Although businesspeople in Hong Kong do not require long-standing personal relationships to do business, many businesses are family- owned, so personal relationships are an integral part of the enterprise. Once you have begun to work with a Hong Kong businessperson, it is important to maintain the relationship. When you first meet, expect a fair amount of small talk. Your Hong Kong colleagues will want to get to know you well enough that they are comfortable working with you. Do not be surprised if you are asked questions that might be considered extremely personal in your home country. The Hong Kong Chinese are generally sophisticated and cosmopolitan. They are quite familiar and comfortable with people from other countries. Although some businesspeople may overlook poor behaviour for the sake of the business deal, many will not. The Hong Kong Chinese take a long-term view of business relationships. Hong Kong Chinese are direct communicators, although they also make use of non-verbal communication. In general, businesspeople are non- confrontational and will never overtly say no, so that they do not embarrass the other person. If someone sucks air through his/her teeth while you are speaking, it means that they are unhappy with what you have just said. If at all possible, try to re-state your position or modify your request, since you have made the other person extremely unhappy. As in many Asian cultures, silence is a form of communication. Resist the urge to jump into the conversation if your Hong Kong business colleague remains silent for a minute. Business Meetings & Negotiations Appointments are necessary and should be made between 1 and 2 months in advance if you are travelling to Hong Kong. Avoid trying to schedule meetings during Chinese New Year (late January or early February) as many businesses close for a week during that time. You should arrive at meetings on time. If you are detained, telephone and advise the person you are meeting. There will be a period of small talk before getting down to business discussions. When meeting your Hong Kong business associates, allow the most senior person in your delegation to lead the group and be introduced first. Business negotiations happen at a slow pace. Avoid losing your temper or you will lose face and damage your relationship. Do not use high-pressure tactics. You might be out-maneuvered. Decisions are usually made at the top of the company. However, the pace of decision making is swifter than in other Asian countries. Your starting price should leave room for negotiation. Never offer your best price initially. Business is more price than quality driven. If you are signing a contract, the signing date may be determined by an astrologer or a feng shui practitioner. Business Card Etiquette Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions. Have one side of your business card translated into Chinese, with the Chinese characters printed in gold, since it is an auspicious color. Business cards are exchanged using both hands. Hand your card so the typeface faces the recipient. Examine business cards carefully before putting them in a business card case. It is important to treat business cards with respect - never write on someone's card unless directed to do so. Your own business cards should be maintained in pristine condition. Make certain your business card includes your job title. This helps your Hong Kong business colleagues understand where you fit in your company's hierarchy.
The Chinese Language
Chinese (漢語) comprises of seven main dialects, Mandarin (官話), Cantonese (廣州話, 廣府話), Hakka (客家話), Wu (吳語), Min (閩語), Xiang (湘語), and Gan (贛語) (figure). The variety of Mandarin based on the speech in the capital Beijing is the official national language of mainland China and is termed Pŭtōnghuà (普通話, Common language). The common language in Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities is Cantonese. The major languages spoken in Taiwan are Mandarin, Taiwanese (a variety of Min), and Hakka. Six of the seven main dialects are in the southeast of Chinese, south of the Yangtze river. Mandarin is spoken in most of northern China and part of western China. The Chinese dialects are not mutually intelligible but are termed dialects from sociological and political points of view. Most of the dialects are themselves composed of a number of non-mutually-intelligible subvarieties. Han Chinese represent about 92 percent of the total Chinese population. About two-thirds of the Han population speaks a variant of Mandarin as their native tongue. A significant part of the Han population is therefore bilingual. Under these circumstances the Common language is used as a second language for formal communication in government, media, and education. The mother tongue is used for remaining occasions such as conversation at home, between friends and relatives, entertainment, etc. All varieties of Chinese belong to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Members of the Sinitic family are typically tonal, meaning that different tones, or intonations, distinguish words that otherwise are pronounced identically. Chinese by origin is monosyllabic. The vocabulary of dialects more recent in the linguistic tree such are Mandarin tend to become more polysyllabic (compound words) as an adjustment to the loss of a number of sounds compared to ancient Chinese. Despite the diversity of speech the Han Chinese share one common script making written communication possible between people speaking mutually unintelligible dialects.
Division of Language and Communication
Dr KWOK, Frieda Yuk-yin Acknowledging the prominent role played by language in society, Dr Frieda Kwok is fond of linguistics and language education. Her interest in the two-language-three-dialect phenomenon in Hong Kong is demonstrated by her continuous academic pursuits after her undergraduate study in language and communication, namely M.A. in Linguistics, M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, and most importantly Doctor of Education with a specialism in Language Education (English). Dr Kwok’s main research interests lie in parents’ role in children’s education, learning and teaching English as a second language, and linguistics in general. As HKCC develops, Dr Kwok has engaged herself in various teaching and non-teaching duties. Subjects she has taught include Practical English, English for Academic Studies, and English for Workplace Communication. Her leadership in these subjects has also provided her with opportunities in designing teaching plans and materials, as well as coordinating teaching teams. Co-curricular wise, Dr Kwok designs, leads, and assists in projects in conjunction with the Student Development Committee, English Enhancement Team, and Marketing Team.
Knowledge Graph
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1 Two Languages and Three Dialects is a basic language policy implemented in Hing Kong.
2 The reason for Two Languages and Three Dialects is based on the historical situation of Hong Kong.
3 Two Languages and Three Dialects makes the written and oral language in Hong Kong complicated.