HOMEKONGERS
ROKA SEDUCOL
駱智勇
Nepalese born and raised in Hong Kong
Age: 13
Time spent in Hong Kong: 13 years
Nationality: Hong Kong Chinese
Migrated from: Nepal (Born and Raised in Hong Kong)
Languages spoken: English, Nepali, Cantonese, Mandarin
Mother tongue: Nepali
Preferred language: Cantonese
School system attended: Local School
QUOTE HIGHLIGHTS
Which language do you like most or prefer most for communication? Why?
“I like to use Cantonese. It feels comfortable for me. It is convenient and easier to use for me than Nepali or English.”
Do you identify yourself as a Hong Konger? Where is home for you? Why/why not?
“I regard myself a Hong Kong citizen. I would call Hong Kong my home cause the people are here are great. I do not want to go back to Nepal and so I do not think I need to learn Nepali, although I was taught Nepali. Sometimes I do even feel weird when I use Nepali with my family.”
HERITAGE LANGUAGE
For Roka’s family, Nepali is their heritage language. Thus, the first language Roka acquired is Nepali. However, this heritage language of the family did not contribute, or say had not the influence strong enough in the construction of Roka’s personal identity. For Roka, to learn Nepali is “unnecessary”. and he feels “weird” sometimes when he uses Nepali with his family, even though it is the language that his parents most familiar fluent in. From the domain analysis, it can be observed that most of the time, the preferred language is Cantonese. Nepalese is only used with parents and very rarely even with his Nepalese friends. To Roka, this heritage language of his parents is obviously not as valuable as to his parents.