CCGL 9024:
Life and Death of Languages
Interview 2- James Hui
Introductory Questions:
Can you introduce yourself?
Oh, my name is James Hui, I’m half French (mother) half Chinese (father). I speak French, Cantonese and English, fluent with some. I’ve lived in Hong Kong all my life.
What language do you consider to be your mother tongue? Are they the same as your parents? Where did you learn them?
For Cantonese I learned in school and from my father, French from my family on my mother’s side, and English mostly in School.
Do your family members speak English (since they're not native english speakers)? Would you normally speak English?
Normally no, no one in my family is british or American so it’s mostly from school and things around me (like books, movies and tv shows).
Hong Kong questions:
Do you consider yourself a Hong Konger? Why or why not?
I’m not sure, I don’t really think about it since I’ve lived here for so long. What is a ‘Hong Konger’? I like living in Hong Kong and I have family here so… yea I know more about Hong Kong than I do about France.
What about being French?
I don’t feel ‘close’ or attached to being French or Chinese, I’ve lived here for so long France is more of a holiday destination than ‘home’, I don't see a connection between the idea of 'home' and where you are (geographically).
Do you think Hong Kong's culture promotes or ignores your nationalities culture and language? If so how?
Well in Hong Kong I have almost no oppurtunity to speak french other than at home, if I want to watch a french movie I have to buy it elsewhere or online. But since I'm more 'Hong Kongese' than french it isn't too much of an issue. I guess it could do with my ideology- I'm not really patriotic and culture (to me) has become very political so I try to distance myself from that
Identity related questions:
Which nationality do you identify with more? If so why?
Well I identify more with as a chinese person just because I've lived here longer and I speak cantonese more fluently than my other languages. I have chinese friends and I read chinese books, I know the culture in Hong Kong much better.
So you only feel that knowing the language helps you identify with being chinese, how do you feel your language and nationality connects to your identity?
I don't really see identity and language relating to each other, language (for me) has always been a way to communicate in a different society, if I need to tell a bus driver I need to get off the bus it's easier in cantonese than english (of course). I see language as more of a way to understand culture of that nationality, uhhhh....I see western culture as more open- it's easier to tell your family 'I love you' in western culture but in chinese culture you never say 'I love you', Hong Kong is much more conservative, you act upon it. So you do something (gesture, behaviour) that is understood (in Hong Kong/chinese culture)
When communicating with people of your nationality is it difficult or easy? If so/not why?
Yea, speaking to chinese people is easier only because I'm more fluent