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

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Hong Kong Cantonese TV talk shows

When code-switching manifests as impoliteness

 | National University of Singapore
 | National University of Singapore
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 4.0 license.
Published online: 28 November 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/prag.21065.lee
Abstract
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 (Spencer-Oatey, Helen. 2002. “Managing Rapport in Talk: Using Rapport Sensitive Incidents to Explore the Motivational Concerns Underlying the Management of Relations.” Journal of Pragmatics 34 (5): 529–545. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, (ed). 2008. Culturally Speaking: Culture, Communication and Politeness Theory. London, New York: Continuum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) 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.
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
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Farghal, Mohammed, Ahmad S. Haider & Susan Abu Tair
2023. Codeswitching in Arabic reality food competition shows through the lens of partial subtitling: A case study of the MENA adaptation of top chef. Cogent Arts & Humanities 10:1 DOI logo

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