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Kazakova O.V. [Hong Kong English: phonetic features and the problem of their perception in cross-cultural communication] World of Science. Series: Sociology, Philology, Cultural Studies, 2020, Vol. 11, No. 2. Available at: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/11FLSK220.pdf (in Russian).

Hong Kong English: phonetic features and the problem of their perception in cross-cultural communication

Kazakova Olga Viktorovna
Military academy of the defense ministry of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: Kazakovaolga2906@yandex.ru

Abstract. The article looks into the phonetic features of Hong Kong English. Developing in a new cultural and language setting, this English variety has been acquiring a number of unique features, which make it different from other varieties of English and are able to identify the speaker as a Hong Konger. The most noticeable features of Hong Kong English are found in its phonology. At the same time, its specific phonetic properties seen as a result of substratum transfer from Cantonese phonology may become an obstacle in cross-cultural communication, causing speech perception and comprehension problems.

The issues of perception and comprehension of non-native English varieties are highly important nowadays, especially because these varieties, including Hong Kong English, are extensively spoken in international communication, namely in such fields as business, trade, tourism, science and education. However, their phonologies are still understudied, as well as out of listening comprehension activity, when teaching English as a foreign language.

Attempting to address the problems of perception and comprehension of Hong Kong English speakers, the author of the article examines the related research findings and singles out the most typical and systematic phonetic features of Hong Kong English at the segmental and suprasegmental levels. Taking into account a great deal of variation of local pronunciation forms, the author sees Hong Kong English as a new evolving variety showing trends towards developing the phonology of its own and as a marker of Hong Kong identity.

Keywords: cross-cultural communication; Hong Kong English; spoken speech perception; phonetics; vowel system; consonant system; prosody; rhythm; intonation

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