2010年8月5日 星期四

講粵語, 寫正體

近日在廣州發起的「撐粵語」運動引起香港人有很大共嗚,以致香港人也上廣州支持。有香港記者被指控為參加非法集會,因而被扣留。這是另一回事。九七前的香港,英語比粵語重要。九七後,這情況沒有太大改變。不但如此,香港人更要學普通話。縱使粵語仍是香港人主要的溝通方言(甚至拿那些說粵語不正確的新移民開玩笑),但我們從沒有為自己的方言引以為榮(大學要用英語上課)。說到底,粵語由始至終都沒有社會地位可言。弔詭的是,粵語沒有因此而被消滅。或許,香港的娛樂文化(指音樂、電影、電視、報刊)頂成功,以致粵語(包括書寫粵語)不知不覺被保護了。說到底,香港人始終說不好英語和普通話,所以,只好繼續講粵語。這是失敗中的成功(指保留粵語)。

有別於廣州人,香港人面對不是粵語消失的威脅,而是與粵語相關的繁(正)體字。數年前,有消息指聯合國有意剔除繁(正)體字作為聯合國官方語之一,以簡體字代替。所以,網絡間發起反對運動,並為繁(正)體字向聯合國申請非物質文化遺產的地位。兩年前,台灣馬英九先生以「識正書簡」調解繁(正)體字與簡體字之爭,而最後被批評為出賣台灣(雖是如此,但我稱讚馬英九先生以「正」字來描述繁體字,因為繁體字不「繁」)。說回來,若語言只是用來溝通,我們對保留粵語和繁(正)體字就不需要這麼緊張。反正要做生意,學普通話和寫簡體字是必須的。然而,文字和語言不只是為了溝通,更關乎文化和身分建立。基本上,香港人是由講粵語和寫繁(正)體字來決定的,而不只是由甚麼核心價值所定。粵語和繁(正)體字不只是用來承載核心價值的內容,更是它們就是香港的核心價值。當有一日,香港人不再用「我地」來講我們時,香港人的身分已不再存在了。

(來源 http://penlives.com/article.php?id=63)

4 則留言:

  1. "大學要用英語上課" in Hong Kong?
    I don't think so!!!
    Why MA program in Religious Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong is taught in Cantonese?

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  2. 有可能你不知道中大的處境. 雖然兩文三語是中大創校原則之一, 但近年來, 中大高層有意全面推動英語授課. 數年前, 校內就此有很激原討論. 從此看來,這正印證我的關注.

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  3. Dear prof. Kung,

    Thank you very much for your reply.

    I once talked to former Chairman of Religious Studies Department in CUHK. His explanation was that many texts of Chinese Religions do have any English translations, so MA Program, M. Phil Program and Ph.D Program are taught in Chinese at Religious Studies Department in CUHK.

    Then When I studied with current Chairman, I found that he very enjoyed speaking Cantonese in his class. One of the reasons seemed also to be that many scriptures of Daoism don't have any English translations.

    I know many students of Religious Studies at CUHK. Sorry, I have to say, few of Ph.D student is good at English, especially spoken English.

    What I am worried is that without enough training of English, how can Ph. D students in Religious Studies major at CUHK cultivate their international view? They are not able to communicate foreign scholars let alone keep themselves up with the academic development of the West. I think Hong Kong is a place where the West meet and mix with the East. But it seems like that Ph.D students of Religious Studies in CUHK cannot become the bridge between the West and the East.

    As one of your students, I am worrying about the future of Religious Studies in CUHK.

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  4. 聯合國廢除繁體字應是謠言,而中國近日亦有官員放風話轉用繁體字,可惜失敗。

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