Sustainability (Individual Perspective)
Parental generation (Lee Siu Po)
In terms of sustainability of Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures, Lee has provided us with following opinions:
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First, she thought that the next generation should better learn Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures because Chiuchownese already lasted for a period of time, particularly in China. Although she suggested the future generation to learn Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures, she did not think that it was a must to learn the language and cultures because of limited usage of Chiuchownese in Hong Kong.
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She also felt that it would be quite challenging to teach Chiuchownese to the next generation, especially if she were to teach the pronunciation of Chiuchownese. In addition, she also felt that the younger generation did not have very high interests to learn Chiuchownese.
Younger generation (Pauline and Judith)
In terms of sustainability of Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures, Pauline and Judith have provided us with following opinions:
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Pauline believed that the need for future generation to learn Chiuchownese was weak because Chiuchownese was not a mainstream language in Hong Kong and there was also lack of usage of Chiuchownese in various domains. She believed that sustainability depends on one’s acceptance of Chiuchow identity. She does not have the intention to pass Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures to future generations. However, she thought that Chiuchownese and cultures will not extinct in the near future because Chiu Chow community still occupied quite a portion of Hong Kong community and groups of Chiu Chow people were still enthusiastic in promoting Chiu Chow cultures.
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On the contrary, Judith believed that younger generation had the responsibility to preserve the Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures. The greatest challenge to be encountered in the course of preservation was even their parents’ generation could not speak Chiuchownese. In preserving and passing Chiu Chow cultures, she preferred experiential related methods e.g. via introducing Chiu Chow cuisine, opera and fieldtrips to Chiu Chow during Festivals. Most importantly, they should first increase the young and future generations’ connection with Chiu Chow. Here was her comment on the feasibility of preserving Chiu Chow cultures. ‘Hong Kong has a good environment and condition to do the preservation work of Chiu Chow language and cultures’.
There is also great contrast between Pauline and Judith on the endangerment and extinction of Chiuchownese and Chiuchow cultures. Judith agreed that Chiuchownese was endangered and would get extinct some day in Hong Kong. Extinction would happen when their parents’ generation passed away. But she was less affirmative to the case in China and said ‘The endangerment and extinction of Chiuchownese and Chiu Chow cultures in China will take place after that of Hong Kong if it really gets extinct in China’.