Mr. A

Mother Tongue: Italian

Profession: Anonymous (interviewee does not wish to be identified)

1. How long have you lived in HK?

Ans: 5 years.

2. What is your native language?

Ans: Italian.

3. Where did you learn your native tongue? Parents, schools or ?

Ans: Home.

4. When do you use this language in Hong Kong?

Ans: Never/ when I speak on the phone with Italy or when I meet an Italian friend.

5. What language do you always use in HK? Why?

Ans: English first, my working language and language of my friends. Cantonese sometimes.

6. Do you speak all the languages your parents speak? Why or why not?

Ans: My parents only ever spoke standard Italian at home.

7. Do your children speak your native language? Will you let your children learn your native language? Why?

Ans: My daughter speaks quite good Italian, she learned it from her cousins and a bit from me. My son understands a little but does not speak.

8. How would you feel if your grandchildren or future generations no longer speak your native tongue?

Ans: I do not mind, they have to speak the languages they need.

9. What would you say to anyone who wants to learn your native tongue?

Ans: If you like it, learn it, but don’t do it for any practical reason.

10. Given the expertise and the resources, would you want to teach others your native language?

Ans: No.

11. Do you see yourself as a HongKonger? How do you find HongKongers?

Ans: No. I do not believe in identity, the only identity is who you are to yourself.

12. How, in your opinion, do Hongkongers perceive your native tongue or people speaking in your native tongue? Are there any particularly impressionable experiences you can share with us?

Ans: They seem to have some romantic notion of Italian. Some music enthusiasts like to learn it, I understand that, plays a big role in opera for instance.

13. What were the difficulties in learning English or Cantonese?

Ans: None. Cantonese I did not have many opportunities to practice so it remained very basic.

14. Rate the proficiency all the languages you speak (1. conversation fluent, 2. can understand but cannot speak, 3. Know some words)

Ans: I speak English, Italian, German, Swedish fluently. I speak Mandarin, French decently. I have a basic knowledge of Cantonese, Dutch, Portuguese and Malay.

15. Do you speak in creole, like Chinglish (Chinese mixed with English)?

Ans: No I don’t need to.

16. What cultural or religious holidays do you celebrate? And how do you celebrate them?

Ans: None.

17. What does your language mean to you?

Ans: All my languages mean something to me, there is no specific language that means something special.