Languages

I wrote the poem 'Languages' when I was an MPhil student writing a thesis on stylistics and Charles Dickens, the quintessential Victorian author, at the University of Hong Kong. The poem describes an educated couple's anxiety to make sure that everyone living on their floor knows that they are well versed in English, as demonstrated by their subscription to the English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post, which they leave on their doorstep for as long as possible every morning. But deep down the couple also know the fact that they can read and speak English is not that impressive, especially since their neighbours probably don't care about this linguistic remnant of colonial days. Also, the couple know that compared to 'real English speakers', their English is accented, awkward and inferior. There is really nothing much to boast about.

Since writing this poem, my inferiority complex regarding English has subsided. I cannot deny I am a by-product of colonialism and postcolonialism – of this I am neither proud nor ashamed – and that, therefore, my use of English in some sense has deep political roots.