SOUND CHANGE IN HONG KONG -NL MERGER

Esther Chan Siu Wa 09279666d Edith Hui Tsz Ying 09269673d

Lai Ka Yee 09133654d Ng Zoe 09233155d

Outline

Background

Purpose

Methodology

Habits

Factors

Attitude

Degree of acceptance

Conclusion

Cantonese

19 onsets/initials ()

53 rimes/finals () 9 tones ()

Monosyllabic language (English: polysyllabic)

!!!

NL Merger: The mergence of initial consonants /n-/ and /l-/

Background

General citizens: - do not pay much attention - do not regard it as a problem

Linguists: - insist on standardized language

- against sound change

!!!

Consequences: inaccuracy future accuracy?

Purpose

Evaluate the habits and perspectives of university students in Hong Kong(HK) towards NL Merger

Raise concern and bring reflection on the relationship between language and culture reservation

Methodology

Primary research

questionnaires

- 30 - First language: Cantonese 28 Mandarin 2

audio recording: 12

Secondary research

sound change books, TV programmes

TRY!

/n-/ :

/l-/:

HABITS

Pronunciation Test Expected Outcome:

Find out the habits for university students in using NL merger

Find out how common NL merger is among university students

Limitations:

May have slight differences from their usual speaking habits

Pronunciation Test

Example: [Play 1 recording(011)]

Pronunciation Test: Sentences

Mistakes: (1)

(nin4) 1/11 (lau4) 0/11 (nau2) 6/11 (naau6) 9/11 (lau4) 0/11 (lai4) 0/11

(2)

(lei5) 0/11

(nei5) 9/11

(lei5) 0/11

Pronunciation Test: Sentences

Mistakes: (3)

(leoi5) 1/11

(neoi5) 8/11

(nei4) 9/11

(4) (lou6) 0/11

(lou6) 0/11

(naa4) 3/11

(nou6) 6/11

(5)

(lai4) 0/11

(nyun6) 11/11

(lyun6) 0/11

Pronunciation Test: Vocabulary

Mistakes:

1. (nou5) 4/11

2. (no6) 7/11

3. (noeng5) 9/11

4. (niu5) 3/11

5. (nik6) 11/11

Pronunciation Test: Vocabulary

6. (lung4) 0/11

7. (lin4) 0/11

8. (lung4) 1/11

9. (laam4) 3/11

10.(lou6) 1/11

Summary

Accuracy of l sounds is higher

Confusion of n sounds more frequently than l

Same word in the sentence

sometimes right, sometimes wrong

not really paying attention to nl sound (005)

FACTORS

Findings

Factors affecting the habit of using NL Merger

2%

29%

5%

23%

41%influence by parents

more casual

requirement of school

a lack of pronunciation training in

Cantonese

others

Inborn factors

Aural ability

Structure of mouth cavity

Inheritance

Gene

Nationality

Acquired factors

Learning environment

School and family

A lack of pronunciation training of Cantonese

Living environment

Media

E.g.nou5? And lou5?

Habit

Attitudes

ATTITUDE

Findings: Impression

FEATURES LOW HIGH 1 2 3 4

Correctness 5 18 7 0

Formality 1 24 4 0

Level of education 1 19 8 1

Professionalism 4 21 3 1

Friendliness 0 14 13 3

Trustworthiness 1 14 13 2

Findings

80% regard accuracy in pronunciation of first language is vital

People should be accurate in ones mother tongue

Accuracy of

language affects

communication

Better

impression

Findings

Around 75% do not agree misunderstanding would often happen when NL Merger is frequently used

!!!

Most frequently/widely used correct?

DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE

Findings: different situations

OCCATIONS TOTALLY DEFINITELY UNACCEPTABLE ACCEPTABLE 1 2 3 4

Casual dinner with a senior 0 10 15 5

Job interview with a friendly and humorous interviewer

5 13 9 3

Patronizing in a luxury store 2 7 11 1

Statement given to the police when under examination

3 15 11 1

New Year greeting on TV from the president of the country

18 8 3 1

Findings

Around 1/2 are conscious in own Cantonese pronunciation

Only 30% would pay attention to the Cantonese pronunciation of others (most would try to correct)

70% regard it as a distinctive feature of HK Cantonese

Hurdles Not much resources

Low awareness of parents

Not included in academic assessment not valued by school

Solutions 2007 HKCE Chinese

oral exam

News reporting

Word card

Conclusion

Widely-accepted in daily use

Little influence on interpretation of meaning

Increased awareness by society and media

Competitiveness of HK

Culture reservation

X

THANK YOU!

References

, , (2007)

, , , (1999)

, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Pao Yue-Kong Library (13/03/2005)

,, (1996)

http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-can/

http://www.csb.gov.hk/hkgcsb/ol/news/no20/p05_8.pdf

, http://www.cckms.edu.hk/sch_support/pdf/007.pdf , (23/10/2007 ) http://hknews.hksyu.edu/media/hksyu_20071023_notes.pdf

,, (16/01/2009) http://the-sun.on.cc/cgi-bin/hotnews2.cgi?a=news&b=20090116&c=20090116013514_0000.html

,, http://www.hkheadline.com/living/living_content.asp?contid=34523&srctype=g

, http://www.ihcr.cuhk.edu.hk/events/pdf/talk.pdf