Where are you from?

Hong Kong…actually I’m a bit confused.

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I don’t think I’m Chinese and I don’t think I’m Pakistani. I think I’m more international.

I don’t fit 100% in any culture.

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Do you understand Punjabi?

I understand Punjabi but can’t speak it.

 

How about Urdu?

I can speak but not in complex sentences

​I notice that when mum says something really serious when I’m upset or when she’s mad at me, I speak in Urdu so she won’t get mad at me. I sound sweeter. I sound more like a child when I speak in Urdu and then she’ll forgive me easier.

 

Are you interested in learning Urdu?

I think Urdu is a very polite language. There’s a word for ‘you’ to someone younger or ‘you’ for elders.

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I’m interested in learning but I feel more comfortable with English. You know I’m learning Arabic and Urdu has a lot of Arabic words so I’m sort of learning Urdu through Arabic.

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Do you think it’s necessary to be able to communicate well in Urdu especially communicating with parents, grandparents, or friends?​

I can understand. There aren’t any communication barriers. I don’t think it’s a problem because I’m not really exposed. Only when I’m exposed it might be a problem. I live in HK and I don’t go out much so I don’t see many Pakistanis

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How did you feel when you went back to visit Pakistan since they must have spoken to you in Urdu? Actually, they use a lot of English words there, even on TV.

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I speak to my granparents in Urdu, but with everyone I mix with English. I speak English with my brothers.

​I think in English.

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Would you want your parents to speak Punjabi to you or English instead of Urdu?

Punjabi sounds a bit more intense. I like mum to speak in Urdu. It sounds more neutral. Dad speaks to us in Punjabi. I speak more to mum but I can also understand Punjabi. I find Punjabi stricter.

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Does your dad speak Cantonese at home?

When he wants me to learn something, sometimes he’ll say a few words so ican learn, when I was young.

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Have you ever had classes in Urdu or do you just pick it up from your parents?

From my parents.

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Is everything you do in English or also Urdu?

Only in English.

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Do you email in Urdu?

No, only in English.

 

​How do you feel about Cantonese?

Do you feel you need to know it or not, because you get by without it?

I want to learn it but I don’t know because I’m not that exposed. Maybe if I’m exposed I’ll end up learning it, like when I was in the hospital I had to use a little Cantonese with the nurses. I didn’t learn it. I think the Cantonese I know is from my experience in the hospital. I know how to say go straight, go left, go right. When I’m in school I don’t learn. I’m not that exposed.

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I can get by and if I need help ​

I can say 救命啊 [save me]！

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What are the reasons you want to learn Cantonese?

I want to learn because I’ve lived here all my life and I listen to words in Cantonese. It’s part of my identity somehow because I was born here so I feel that’s why. But I’m learning Arabic now so it’s a bit hard.

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Do you watch Cantonese TV?

Only when I was in the hospital. I understand what’s going on but I don’t know all the words. I can guess what’s happening.