This book presents an empirically-grounded sociolinguistic history of the English language in Hong Kong in the past 170 years. Using substantial sets of diachronic and synchronic data, it traces the changing status and functions of English in relation to spoken Cantonese, Mandarin and written Chinese in the key domains of government, education and business. The author tracks the rise of English-knowing bilingualism in the city's Chinese community and explores the evolutionary dynamics of Hong Kong English. He also speculates on the future of English in the territory, particularly after 2047 when the 'one country, two systems' framework established by the Sino-British Joint Declaration is dismantled. Researchers and students working in the fields of sociolinguistics, English as a global language, world Englishes, applied linguistics and English-language education will find this book provides valuable information and insights about the uses and users of English in colonial and post-colonial Hong Kong. More generally, it makes a unique contribution to the literature on the diffusion and diversification of English worldwide.

Draw on years of empirically-grounded research in the use of English in the domains of business, law and education in Hong Kong, as well as English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in general Offers a comprehensive diachronic and synchronic description of English in Hong Kong Employs historical sources, census data, as well as more recent usage surveys Explains in detail who the users of English have been over the 170-year history of the city

Autorentext
Stephen Evans is a Professor in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China, where he teaches courses in sociolinguistics, English as an international language and ELT syllabus and materials design. He has published widely in the areas of language policy, world Englishes, English for specific purposes and language in education.

Klappentext

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Introduction: Exploring the diffusion and diversification of English.- Chapter 2: Language trends in the organs of government.- Chapter 3: Language policies and practices in education.- Chapter 4: English as a business lingua franca.- Chapter 5: The English-using community.- Chapter 6: The evolutionary dynamics of Hong Kong English.- Chapter 7: Conclusion: Investigating the past, illuminating the present, imagining the future.