Code-switching之大學術語 (By Cheng Ka Lok, Joe)

Code-switching in Hong Kong

Code-switching is a type of linguistic behavior that juxtaposes "passages of speech belonging to two different grammatical systems or sub-systems, within the same exchange". Code-switching in Hong Kong mainly concerns two grammatical systems: Cantonese and English. According to Matrix Language Frame Model, Cantonese, as the “matrix language”, contributes bound morphemes, content and function words, whereas, English, the “embedded language”, contributes lexical, phrases or compound words. -- (An extract from Wikipedia)

After reading the above paragraph, I believe that all of you must know more about ‘code-switching’. Since ‘code-switching’ is a new variety of English created in Hong Kong, we can investigate it more through looking at the popular college terms which used the ‘code-switching’ techniques. These terms are commonly used by undergraduates to interact with their peers. As a university student, do you understand all the ‘code-switching’ terms or phrases I mention below??

1) GPA︰全稱Grade Point Average，將修讀各科的成績化成數字後，計算出來的平均數，代表了一個大學生的成績，是衡量學業成績的標準。

(From: www.fremont.k12.ca.us)

All of you must have heard of this term. Sometimes, you may ask your classmates “你GPA幾多呀?” Yet, have you ever used this term in Chinese? In fact, it is called “成績平均績點” but I think it is a bit weird for you to use the Chinese term as almost all the undergraduates would only know its English version.

2)    O︰取自英文「Orientation」的頭一個字母，即「迎新活動」。

「大O」：由學生會舉辦的迎新營。

「細O」：由各學院（Faculty）或學系（Department）舉辦的迎新營。

「暗O」：未經學生會批准的迎新營。

「Hall O」：香港大學專用，由各舍堂（Hall）舉辦的迎新營，通常為期七至十日。

  O Camp：迎新營。

  O Day︰迎新日。

  O Night：迎新夜。

3) 摺「拉把」︰經常躲在圖書館溫習而不投入參與活動的大學生。拉把︰取「圖書館」的英文「library」的「libra」發音。

I learned this term last year. I think it is so creative since「拉把」can be read smoothly and this Cantonese term can really make you think of the situation of the studious students. 

4) 殺人王／殺手／Killer︰指對學生評分十分嚴謹甚至苛刻，不時將學生功課及考試評為不合格的大學老師。

I heard of the term ‘killer’ from my ‘組爸組媽’ last year while choosing subjects in the first semester. I regard it as a kind of ‘re-contextualization’ because the word carries different meanings in Hong Kong when compared to the other countries. At universities in Hong Kong, ‘killers’ refer to the professors who always give low grades to students. However, this term doesn’t appear at the universities overseas. 

5) NDS、PSP︰指內地生，NDS取其普通話拼音Nei Di Sheng之聲母，PSP則為Putonghua Speaking People（講普通話的人）的縮寫。

These two terms are so creative as well. They are originally the names of two game consoles but people make them become the abbreviations of ‘Nei Di Sheng’ and ‘Putonghua Speaking People’. It can be seen that the creativity of netizens is far beyond our imaginations. 

6) 報Status

(From: www.vjmedia.com.hk)

大學生認識的人很多，每每認識一群新朋友的時候，大家最關心的，莫過於是各人的感情狀況。大家自我介紹的時候總要報一報Status，A(Available)或O(Occupied)再加個數字N(拍拖次數)，報上A的人都是Possible的追求目標。不過，如果拍拖次數太多，說出來也有些尷尬。因此，那些感情玩家會被大家定義為A380。

The popularity of ‘報Status’ shows that many university students really care about the romantic relationship of the people around them…

7) 出pool

出pool即是由「單身」變成「正在交往中」。想像所有單身的人都在同一個pool內，一旦拍拖了，便成功走出單身的pool。很多新鮮人由 O Camp 開始，便想盡快結識男女朋友，擺脫dry club的行列。出pool當然是開心事，但按傳統出pool者會被屈請大家吃出pool飯，真的非常肉痛。

Students have been talking about the “Five Things in University (大學五件事)” which includes studying (讀書), dating (拍拖), part-time job (做兼職), taking up official position in Student Associations (上莊), and hall residence (住Hall). Obviously, ‘出pool’ is one of them. However, I cannot figure out the reason why people use the word ‘pool’ until now, haha!!

8) Re-U - 再次舉辦聚會（Reunion）的簡稱，最常見的是迎新營後舉辦，讓迎新營參加者重聚的活動。

你‘re-u’了嗎??

9) 癲list - 院長名單（Dean's List），每學年GPA最高的若干百分比的人會被列入Dean's List，是成績的肯定。

(From: www.hrm.uh.edu)

To me, this example of ‘code-switching’ is the most interesting one among the above-mentioned terms. It used ‘bilingual punning’ which makes use of similarity in pronunciation between English and Cantonese to attract attention. The words ‘癲’ and ‘dean’ are nearly the same. Also, ‘癲’ can represent how students think about those excellent students who get very high GPA. So, I think this bilingual pun is really hilarious and also deserves our reflection.