Hongkongers mix English and Cantonese into new language, Kongish
Born as a language of protest, Kongish – a humorous mix of Cantonese and literal English translations from the local tongue – is gaining currency among bilingual young Hongkongers as a badge of identity
It takes a bit of lateral thinking to make sense of Philip the Buster. A song by Hong Kong indie band GDJYB, it features all-English lyrics but not ones most English speakers would understand.
This is a form of Kongish. “It’s a distinct language that is unique to bilingual Hong Kong people,” says Soft Liu, the band’s lead singer.
Watch: Learn some Kongish, a new language mixing English and Cantonese
“Philip the Buster is about the absurdity of the government. Although some people think filibusters hold up Legislative Council proceedings and waste taxpayers’ money, we need them as the administration rushes to implement unpopular policies,” Liu says.
Hongkongers have often taken creative liberties with the use of English and Cantonese but a growing sense of local identity in the post-colonial era has fuelled the development of Kongish. And among youth of the “umbrella movement” protest generation, it has assumed an even more prominent role as creative groups make use of the linguistic mish-mash in their works.
READ MORE: Add oil! The evolution of Hong Kong English, and where our unique words come from
