23 September 2016 (Friday) – online

Dr Lisa Lim, Associate Professor in the School of English, discusses her hopes for the preservation of the indigenous cultures and languages of the Tanka and Hakka people in Hong Kong in her fortnightly Post Magazine column: Language Matters.

“The relocation of [Hakka and Tanka] communities to post-war new towns and urban centres – coupled with the decline of small-scale rural econ­omies, and language policy and attitudes – contributed to reduced heritage language use.

However, the value of indigenous cultures and languages has been recognised of late and, in 2011, the Tai Hang fire-dragon dance joined the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Although none of Hong Kong’s 10 ICH entries on the national list comprise languages, in the first ICH Inventory of Hong Kong, in 2014, 21 of 480 items are oral traditions and expressions, including Hakka, fishermen’s dialect and other language varieties. There is hope yet for tangible outcomes.”

Please click on the following link for the complete article:
http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/2021675/new-hope-disappearing-languages-and-cultures

Source: SCMP