Transcripts
Interviewee A :Dahlia Guinasao
Interviewee B :Mayra Cavestany
Interviewee A
Q: Let’s start by self-introductory questions. So, what languages do you speak?
A: I can speak English, Tagalog and Ilokano.
Q: So Ilokano is your local dialect?
A: Yes, in our place, it’s Ilokano. But if you use dialect in… outside, then you speak English or Tagalog, also cannot speak Ilokano.
Q: Okay, so other people in Philippines cannot speak…
A: Filipinos can speak Tagalog.
Q: Okay, so is Ilokano your native language?
A: Yeah.
Q: Okay. So how long have you been in Hong Kong?
A: 16 years.
Q: 16 years… so why did you come to Hong Kong?
A: I came here in Hong Kong to earn money, for the future of my daughters, so that they can go to high school or university.
Q: Can you describe a typical day in your life, or a week in your life, and what type of languages do you use when you do those activities?
A: I will use English and Tagalog, if there is activities.
Q: Okay. So when communicating with your friends?
A: My friends is (are) also Ilokano. We can communicate (in) Ilokano, but if it is not Ilokano, we use Tagalog and English.
Q: So how often do you speak, or talk with your friends?
A: If I go down… somebody, I see, like me, Ilokano, I can talk with them in Ilokano. Like that… if it’s also Tagalog, I can talk with them (in) Tagalog.
Q: So do you speak Ilokano regular?
A: Yes!
Q: So the frequency is like… everyday?
A: Yes. Like in Philippines.
Q: So you meet somebody Ilokano every day?
A: Yes.
Q: Okay. So are you learning or trying to learn Cantonese or Mandarin?
A: Learned only Cantonese but Mandarin. I learned Cantonese so that I can communicate with 婆婆and爺爺who cannot speak English. That’s why I learned how to speak Cantonese but I don’t know how to write (laugh)… but not so many, just only the easy.
Q: Do you think Cantonese is important?
A: Yea, important in Hong Kong so that you can communicate with people that don’t know how to speak English.
Q: So what is the language that you use most frequently now, like, you speak the most often?
A: Sometimes I could not speak English, then I need to speak Cantonese.
Q: You mean to Hong Kong people?
A: Yes.
Q: So you speak English and Cantonese the same (frequently).
A: Yes.
Q: Do you speak English more than Tagalog or Ilokano?
A: Same?
Q: So when did you start learning English?
A: When I go (came) to school, grade one.
Q: Oh grade one you started learning English. And Tagalog also?
A: Yeah.
Q: So it is compulsory to learn English?
A: (Nodding)
Q: Do you think after learning English and Tagalog, or Cantonese, there is a decrease in speaking Ilokano?
A: No.
Q: You speak (Ilokano as frequently)?
A: Yes. Because every day I can meet also my friends.
Q: So if that person is Ilokano, you will definitely speak Ilokano, not Tagalog?
A: No, not Tagalog. If it’s Tagalog, then we speak Tagalog. Because the Tagalog can also understand Ilokano.
Q: Do you think there is a decrease in your home?
A: No.
Q: There are still many people speaking Ilokano?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you think the importance of Ilokano has decreased since you come to Hong Kong?
A: The same. Because I’m already old when i come here.
Q: What do you think is special about your native language? Like, do you think there is anything special about Ilokano?
A: No, I think Tagalog.
Q: Why do you think Tagalog is special?
A: Because all the people (in Philippines) understand Tagalog. Because so many different languages in Philippines.
Q: Which language do you think is more important for the future?
A: English.
Q: Why is that? Why important?
A: Because all the world can speak English.
Q: So for communication. So you think English is the most important. More important than Tagalog?
A: Yes. English is the most important because Tagalog is only in the Philippines.
Q: And what about Ilokano? Do you think it’s also important for future?
A: No.
Q: Then do you think it’s worthy to continue speaking Ilokano?
A: Yes. In our place, if Tagalog, they can understand, but if other languages, they can’t understand.
Q: So in order to communicate with people from your homeland, you have to continue speaking Ilokano?
A: Yes, in our place.
Q: So you have kids?
A: Yes.
Q: They also speak Ilokano?
A: Yes. They speak English, Tagalog and Ilokano.
Q: Do you think it’s important for them to continue to teach their kids Ilokano?
A: Yes. Because in our place it’s Ilokano!
Q: Do you plan to leave Hong Kong?
A: No.
Q: Do you think you will value English and Cantonese as much as now even after you leave Hong Kong and go back to Philippines?
A: Maybe if I go back to Philippines, no more will I speak Cantonese because there is no Hongkonger there.
Q: Then will you value English as much as now even if you go back to Philippines?
A: Same same.
Q: Do you think that Hong Kong is a city that promotes language diversity? Do you think it encourages you to speak different languages and allow you to do so?
A: Because I only learned Cantonese when I came here in Hong Kong. Some languages I cannot understand (can’t hear clearly the example she gave). Only Cantonese I can understand but the other languages I cannot understand. But my friend knows how to speak Mandarin because my friend came from Singapore and then came here in Hong Kong.
Q: When you try to speak your native languages, both Tagalog and Ilokano, in Hong Kong in public, do you feel comfortable?
A: I didn’t try…
Q: You mean Tagalog or Ilokano?
A: Ilokano.
Q: You have no try to speak Ilokano in Hong Kong?
A: (shaking head) I try. But only with my friends. I only have two friends in Hong Kong.
Q: Okay. Then do you feel comfortable then speaking Tagalog in public?
A: Yes, a little bit uncomfortable.
Q: So you don’t feel really (comfortable)?
A: (Nodding)
Q: Why? Why is it?
A: Because sometimes there is a word I forget in Tagalog (laugh).
Q: But there is no other reason?
A: No.
Q: Do you think it’s important to continue to preserve your native language? You know a lot of languages in the world, they are facing extinction because nobody speaks them anymore. Do you think it’s important to preserve your native language so that it will not be endangered?
A: Of course.
Q: Why do you think it’s important?
A: But in our place only. In other place, cannot, only English.
Q: So you think English is…
A: Yes. English is very important so that you can communicate with other people. In Canada, they can understand Ilokano, but they cannot speak it. When you speak to them with Ilokano, they answer you in English.
Q: When this situation goes on, if they can speak English, they can understand Ilokano but cannot speak Ilokano anymore, then Ilokano will disappear. Do you think it’s a problem?
A: Yes! It’s a problem if the one can not understand English, like that.
Q: But if they all start to learn English then it’s not a problem. As long as they can communicate.
A: Because my cousin in Canada, they did not study Ilokano, Tagalog. But they hear, come here, like that, Ilokano, they go also. But they cannot speak Ilokano or Tagalog, but they can understand. But there are something in Ilokano, they can understand also in English.
Q: So it will be problem if they can’t communicate.
A: Yes. Like here the 婆婆and爺爺, they didn’t go to school, they cannot speak English.
Q: So you think the main idea is to make people able to communicate.
A: Yes.
Q: Okay, thank you very much.
A: You are welcome.
Interviewee B
Q: What languages do you speak?
A: I can use English of course.
Q:How long have you been in Hong Kong?
A:Actually I’ve been here for almost 21 years, since 1994.
Q:Why did you come to Hong Kong?
A: Actually i came to Hong Kong just for working.
Q:Can u describe a typical day in Hong Kong and what languages you use to conduct those activities?
A: In holiday I use my native language which is Tagalog. Actually i use my native language every day, and when i have activities. Sometimes i use English, which is also used in my country.
Q;Have you learn cantonese?
A: Actually i hear Mandarin. But only speak a little Cantonese. Sometimes because i’m working here with the elders, so i need to know some words to understand what they want. You know…...just for understanding.
Q: Since you moved to Hong Kong,how often do you use your native language?
A: Actually i use it everyday, when i sometimes call my friends…….actually everyday.
Q:What language do you speak most frequently
A: Actually i think it is English, and then the Tagalog.
Q: So you speak more English than Tagalog?
A: Yes, here in Hong Kong, yes.
Q: When did you start learning English?
A: Actually in the Philippines, we are mixed with English and the Tagalog language. But since i moved, here, i speak more English, more than Tagalog.
Q: So you started learning English back in the Philippines?
A: yes
Q: Do you think using English and Cantonese have led to the decrease in the frequency in speaking your native language?
A: For me, it’s no.
Q: Do you think you should increase the use of your native language?
A: For me, it’s no. Because how can i use my native language if the environment requires me to speak in English or Cantonese.
Q: How do you view your native language? Do you think Chinese and English is more important than it.
A: i think no. Especially when i go back home, most of the people still speak Tagalog there.
Q: Which language is important for your future?
A: I think English, because actually if you know English and you can speak English, everybody can understand, even in the other counties can understand what you say. My native language can purely be used in the Philippines.
Q: Do you plan to leave Hong Kong anytime?
A: Nowadays i don’t have any plan yet to leave Hong Kong, but maybe in the future.
Q:Do you think you will value English and Cantonese as much as now after you leave?
A: I think English but Cantonese i’m not sure because i think not many can speak Cantonese in Philippines nowadays. Therefore i think English is much more valuable.
Q:Have you ever have any experience of speaking your native language in the public?
A: Actually in Sunday, we use Tagalog
Q: Do you feel comfortable speaking it in public?
A: Of course, it’s my native language, we can express everything in our native language. Even in Hong Kong, especially with my friends.
Q: Do you have children?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you think it is important to pass on your native language to your children?
A: Yes. Actually, all two are using the native language, tagalog. But we are also using English. Because, if you didn't know, in the Philippines, language in the everyday life, we are using actually English and then the Tagalog. For the older people, we are also using Spanish. So we are actually a mixture of the languages. It is actually not quite difficult for us to move here in Hong Kong to adjust to different languages.
Q: So the mixing of language is very common in the Philippines?
A: Yes, since we are young, usually we learn Tagalog and then English
Q: So do you think Hong Kong is a city that promotes language diversity?
A: i think it’s an international City
Thank you :)