Posted by
Fab
20 yrs ago
Hi, so I've been learning Mandarin for a year or so (mostly for the heck of it).
Now I might have the chance of moving to HK for work.
Can you give me an idea of how widely Mandarin is spoken there, how far is it understood, and is it actually normally used by some people to communicate?
I'm afraid that for a long time to come, in terms of actually communicating it will be easier for me (particularly in HK) to use English than Mandarin. So my question is really whether HK is a place where I can still somewhat "immerse" myself in Mandarin and progress in learning, or whether it's more like a "foreign" language.
And, last question, what do you think the trend will be?
Thanks - Fab
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If you are vigilant at the weekend, you will see/hear the daytrippers from over the border. Men are easily spotted as they always where black trousers and belt and black slip on leather shoes (why is that? - guess it's like filipinos wearing skin tight denim jeans right?).
Having said that, there is nothing to stop you doing day trips into China - Zhu Hai, ShenZen, Guangzhou etc to keep in linguistic shape.
Places you are GUARANTEED to bump into many mainlanders: Ocean Park and Disneyland.
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Unless there is the threat of force, it takes a while for a language spoken by local citizens to become less dominant - and it's only been nine years since the handover. It does benefit China and its government if Mandarin is the dominant language - for written Chinese, business, government, etc.
Before the handover, I reckoned it would take at least a generation for Mandarin to completely supplant Cantonese in business and schools in Hong Kong. Cantonese will be increasingly marginalised (as recent history of another region shows us) and will only to be spoken in the home.
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ceeh
20 yrs ago
Fab, as others have said above, Cantonese is the language spoken here but never fear I am a Westerner who learnt Putonghua and am using it in the office. Only a few Gweilos in the office, all others are Chinese who speak both Cantonese and Mandarin. The staff respect the fact that I have bothered to learn 'Chinese' so speak Mandarin in order for me to be able to join in. They are all fluent in English but still accommodate my Putonghua preference when they slip back into Chinese.
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Putonghua is getting more and more in demand - in particular if the job entails communication with others who are based on the mainland.
I'm a natice English speaker and struggling to get a job as most employers require Chinese!
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To add another 2 cents... the new private school I'm teaching in requires all lessons to be taught in English or Putonghua.
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Fab
20 yrs ago
Thanks for all your informative replies.
In the office I might join, people speak primarily English, and then Mandarin or Cantonese (it's a mix of Westerners, HK and other Chinese). So, it's mostly of concern outside the office.
I'm looking forward to learning more Mandarin, even if it's not going to be trivial.
(and sorry for the delay in replies, first my spamfilter ate the notifications that answers were posted, then my browser ate my replies... Firefox does work, as prominently suggested when one signs up.)
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Jigglypuff, some are native, most are not native mandarin speakers.
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