Microaggressions

[Mat]

So in short rpl22, sorry, in HK we just smile and get on with the important things in life.. like what to eat for lunch, where to go hiking this weekend...you know, the real stuffs.

[TigerSun]

However, if me asking (sometimes somebody who talked mandarin to my wife before, like a building guard for ex.), most of the time my question in mandarin is replied with a succession of HALLO and finger pointing...

What do you guys think about it ? Is it a microagression ? how should it be adressed ?

I think this is a miss-diagnosis and is neither racist nor aggressive.

When I was learning Japanese, the teacher related a story of a white professor of classical Japanese languages asking for directions in Tokyo and getting blank, uncomprehensive stares. He could speak better Japanese than most indigenous speakers. I've heard of this disconnect before.

I think there might be a psychological explanation related to language, perception and wiring of our brains - but I certainly wouldn't conclude it was aggression.

[GeoDerek]

You guys are pretty good at English!

[Skyhook]

Having spent last week in Tokyo, arriving back to HKG on Monday, I have to say that the level of English is quite good these days, be it the staff at Lawson/Family Mart, to the station masters, or just random people in the street when asking for directions.

On 3 separate occasions where we asked for directions, we got help in a very genuine/helpful manner, even the young man that was sweeping the floor at Shirokane-Takanawa metro station spoke English, well enough to help us choose the right exit that would lead us to Burger Mania lol as we were on a mission to pay that eatery a visit.

Our very basic map downloaded off the Burger mania website wasn't to scale, so, once we were on foot we asked a nice man in a suit who was walking toward us, if we were heading in the right direction ? He pulled out his phone and accessed his GPS and then said that we only about 500 metres away from where we wanted to go, we exchanged smiles and went our separate ways while commenting to my wife on how this sort of thing just doesn't happen enough in HKG ! lol

When you experience a simple but positive exchange like that, it can really make or break your view of a place and have to say, it made the burger (below), taste just that much better lol... Love Tokyo and yet to have a negative experience that upset me enough to comment about it, it's yet to happen.

[ExpatNeighbor]

I was referring to locals such as sales people, clerks, shop employees, policemen etc...
maybe not great English, but enough to make themselves understood at least.

Still not very true here. A few local English speakers maybe, understable - fewer. Maybe that's why the so called microaggression (if it really exists) does not affect us here. Locals can't comment on my use of chopsticks in decent English.

[jgl]

Something I notice also is the huge difference between the reactions to this subject in Taiwan and here in Hong Kong.
In Taiwan the debate has produced more than 25 forum pages of debate, which mostly aknowlodge the microaggression as truly existing and bothering.
However, so far here in Hong Kong the main opinion is more that the problem doesnt exist and therefore shouldnt be addressed.

Could be something to do with the nature of the forum and the expat population. Not sure about Taiwan, but HK probably has a bit more of the British 'suck it up and stop whining' culture. We bitch and moan about things that annoy us because it's fun, but that's different from inventing incredibly lame victimised bollocks with made up buzzwords.

I wonder if my post could be called a microaggression against people who believe in the existence of microagression?

[justjoe86]

Is it really a 'micro aggression' to assume that a white person in HK speaks English? if so, I'm guilty as charged.

[justjoe86]

And one thing that really bugs me is when expats comment on how bad locals' English is. Most of us can't speak Chinese so I think we should just be grateful that people speak enough English for us to get by in this city, which we certainly can.

if you spend a few days trying to learn Cantonese you will see exactly why the standard of English here seems bad... the two languages are pretty much incompatible. It's not like us learning Spanish or German or something. Actually, considering the huge difference in the two languages, I am quite impressed by the level of English in HK.

[SiuMaiTaiTai]

And one thing that really bugs me is when expats comment on how bad locals' English is. Most of us can't speak Chinese so I think we should just be grateful that people speak enough English for us to get by in this city, which we certainly can.

if you spend a few days trying to learn Cantonese you will see exactly why the standard of English here seems bad... the two languages are pretty much incompatible. It's not like us learning Spanish or German or something. Actually, considering the huge difference in the two languages, I am quite impressed by the level of English in HK.

I went to a meet up event and the topic of what do we like and dislike the most about Hong Kong came up, this girl chirps up and says how she 'hates HK coz many people don't speak or understand English' ha! It is like saying 'I don't like HK, it's too Chinese'

[Mat]

Ayou will see exactly why the standard of English here seems bad...

I agree with your post but when you say the standard is bad, it is as compared to where?

Spain?
France?
Italy?
Russia?
Japan?
USA?

I personally think that for a city where English (while being an official language) is NOT a native language, the level is pretty OK (as you do). you very very seldom get into trouble by not speaking Cantonese. The same can't be said in most of the countries listed above for example.