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Article published In:
Pragmatics
Vol. 33:2 (2023) ► pp.237–259

Hong Kong Cantonese TV talk shows

When code-switching manifests as impoliteness

| National University of Singapore
| National University of Singapore

This study examines how impoliteness is carried out through code-switching in the Hong Kong Cantonese television talk show Sze U Tonight. Hong Kong is a modern and globalised Chinese society with a colonial background and is currently part of China. This unique combination makes the norms that govern code-switching and impoliteness in talk shows worth exploring. It is interesting to examine how the Hong Kong people express themselves through their language choices, especially when this is put in the media for public viewing, situated in the context of semi-institutional conversations on a Hong Kong television talk show. Using Spencer-Oatey’s (2002, 2008) rapport management framework, this paper discusses the forms and functions of code-switching that manifest as impoliteness in the media of a multilingual Chinese society.

Keywords: impoliteness, code-switching, television talk show, Hong Kong, Cantonese, rapport management
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Related studies
    • 2.1TV talk shows
    • 2.2Chinese impoliteness
    • 2.3Rapport management framework
    • 2.4Code-switching
  • 3.Methodology
  • 4.Forms and functions of CS manifesting as impoliteness
    • 4.1Words and phrases of CS manifesting impoliteness
      • 4.1.1Address terms
      • 4.1.2Sensitive issues
      • 4.1.3Exclamations
    • 4.2CS sentences showing impoliteness
      • 4.2.1Making requests
      • 4.2.2Displaying insult
      • 4.2.3Feigning ignorance
      • 4.2.4Showing disagreement
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 4.0 license.
Published online: 28 November 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/prag.21065.lee
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