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If you must curse, at least get it right
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Lawrence Ma Yan-kwok
Legislators should not curse in public, especially not in English. If nothing else, they don't know how to do it properly.
Take the case of Lawrence Ma Yan-kwok, the barrister and Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker, who denounced pan-democratic lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung as "not a f**king Chinese" in the Legislative Council this week.
It is not that I disapprove of the word. Like any self-respecting reporter, I can't imagine a work day without cursing in its Cantonese and English variants. They say "curse like a sailor" but I suspect we journalists are worse.
The F-word is arguably the most versatile in the English language. Used as a verb, noun or adjective, it can be deployed in myriad situations and expressions - to curse, to convey exuberance or frustration, to provoke, amuse and, as originally intended, to pleasure. It works equally effectively as a modifier and standalone.
That may be why it is usually one of the first English words we Chinese learn inadvertently. The thing is, English is not only a beautiful but also convenient language, and has a word for practically everything under the sun. Excessive use of the F-word might limit your vocabulary.
Now, "a f**king Chinese" is a phrase more likely to be uttered by an ignorant sinophobic foreigner or racist. Presumably, Ma is trying to say he is a proud Chinese, rather than a f**king one.
Let us take a look at the full sentence which he shouted out, strangely, in English: "I am a Chinese, you are not. You are not even a f**king Chinese!" Did Ma think there are normal Chinese and then f**king ones? I suggest he is linguistically confused.
You see, Lawrence, even cursing has its own grammar. Perhaps no one taught you how to curse properly as you were too busy learning multi-syllabic legalese in law school.
Ma was berating Leung for being without education and proper qualifications, unlike him, while they debated civil liberties. Leung could hardly complain, since he long since threw Legco etiquette out the window. Still, there might be children listening.
I shudder to think what school life would be like if they learned from Ma and all shouted: "We are f**king Chinese."
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whymak Feb 25th 2013
8:09am
8:09am
Now back in the saddle with a better keyboard, I will add a couple more comments.
"Ma is trying to say he is a proud Chinese, rather than a f**king one." Perhaps he meant he never contributed to China's population explosion.
There is one point missed by Mr. Lo. There appears to be 3 categories of Chinese according to Ma: vanilla, F-ones and all others. Obviously, Ma says Leung belongs to the 3rd category.
"...you (Ma) were too busy learning multi-syllabic legalese in law school." You're right on the money about lawyers with their half baked English.
Years ago, an SJC schoolmate of mine argued a case in a HK court. This is what he said about his adversary's client: "His check bounced." The judge berated him for this American vernacular: "Mr. Ts, the check could either be honored or dishonored. Unlike you, a check doesn't bounce."
"Ma is trying to say he is a proud Chinese, rather than a f**king one." Perhaps he meant he never contributed to China's population explosion.
There is one point missed by Mr. Lo. There appears to be 3 categories of Chinese according to Ma: vanilla, F-ones and all others. Obviously, Ma says Leung belongs to the 3rd category.
"...you (Ma) were too busy learning multi-syllabic legalese in law school." You're right on the money about lawyers with their half baked English.
Years ago, an SJC schoolmate of mine argued a case in a HK court. This is what he said about his adversary's client: "His check bounced." The judge berated him for this American vernacular: "Mr. Ts, the check could either be honored or dishonored. Unlike you, a check doesn't bounce."
darrylcbg Feb 23rd 2013
7:56am
7:56am
Witty and thoroughly uplifting,s howing your craftsmanship Alex. Write mor ethat like!
whymak Feb 25th 2013
8:10am
8:10am
In some varieties of poker games, the dealer is given the privilege to declare any card to be wild. The plenipotent wild card(s) bestows upon the player in possession an increased chance of winning.
The F word is the wild card in the English language used to represent all parts of speech, declensions and meanings. It provides a level playing field device for less literate folks.
In past corporate meetings with those mega-million bonus babies, I came across the F word in expressions of anger, alienation, sarcasm and not the least, an illiterate persona.
To be frank, yours truly usually rose to the challenge of any cursing contests.
What's the big deal?
The F word is the wild card in the English language used to represent all parts of speech, declensions and meanings. It provides a level playing field device for less literate folks.
In past corporate meetings with those mega-million bonus babies, I came across the F word in expressions of anger, alienation, sarcasm and not the least, an illiterate persona.
To be frank, yours truly usually rose to the challenge of any cursing contests.
What's the big deal?
RuManchu Feb 22nd 2013
8:41pm
8:41pm
Great piece - very amusing. But I'd like to add my voice to the chorus saying that "You are not even a f**king Chinese!" is perfectly grammatical, and does not insult Chinese people. The "****", as others have pointed out, is for emphasis, and modifies the entire sentence "you are not even Chinese", not just the noun "Chinese".
The use of "a Chinese" as opposed to "Chinese" doesn't change the sense of the sentence in any way.
Sure, swearing doesn't belong in this context. But while this swearing is out of place, you can't deny that it's perfectly formed.
The use of "a Chinese" as opposed to "Chinese" doesn't change the sense of the sentence in any way.
Sure, swearing doesn't belong in this context. But while this swearing is out of place, you can't deny that it's perfectly formed.
PDB1688 Feb 22nd 2013
7:22pm
7:22pm
Alex - this really has been one of your best columns yet :-)
Like Gracekitying I have been laughing my head off all day
(It really takes the p**s out of all the a**e- h**s in L***O - and they deserve it !)
Like Gracekitying I have been laughing my head off all day
(It really takes the p**s out of all the a**e- h**s in L***O - and they deserve it !)
pslhk Feb 22nd 2013
6:03pm
6:03pm
Should one be pedantic about f.k.g, the word and the act?
To dictate proper grammatical use of the word
is like to standardize the act
This kind of things should be natural:
mission accomplished if feelings are conveyed
Except for those who watch the clock and monitor their hb, bp and cardiograph
while in action.
To dictate proper grammatical use of the word
is like to standardize the act
This kind of things should be natural:
mission accomplished if feelings are conveyed
Except for those who watch the clock and monitor their hb, bp and cardiograph
while in action.
ykbc Feb 22nd 2013
5:22pm
5:22pm
Starry Lee, a deputy chairman of the DAB and a member of both Legco and Exco, once severely censured Wong Yuk-man, as a mother, for having uttered undesirable language at Legco meetings, which according to her would have awfully bad influence on young children. I really want to know what she would say about the expletives used by a fellow member of her party to demean all Chinese.
pflim040@netvig... Feb 22nd 2013
3:32pm
3:32pm
this lawmaker from the notorious DAB might be a geniune fxxking Chinese Australian as he claimed he worked in Australia for 20 years before coming back to Hong Kong where he studied at the Salesian School (once a prestigious school in the sixties of last century) which reputation has been tarnished by his foul language used in the Legco chamber openly against another lawmaker,Leung Kwok-hung (who just graduated from Clementi Middle School but can speak fluent English since he frequents Lang Kwei Fong to relax himself).This Ma is definitely a shame of all ethnic Chinese and Hongkongers who look down upon any so-called intellectuals (e.g.barristers) speaking foul language openly at public places ! Right ? Shame on this Ma Yan-kwok who is good at cursing others and has set a bad example for our youngsters and school children ! Shame on Ma and his political party which can never recruit any quality members but just Ms. Chiang Lei-wan, Chan Hak-kan (who asked people to try his breast) and this nasty Ma Yan-kwok---a disgrace to his fellow barristers in town ! Shame on Ma Yan-kwok !!
Byebye Feb 22nd 2013
2:23pm
2:23pm
I can't imagine Mr Lawrence Ma said this in Cantonese! Good observation. Long Hair needs to improve his manners not only in Legco, but on the street too. Its time he has a new hair cut.
whymak Feb 22nd 2013
11:41am
11:41am
I couldn't help chiming in even during my diving vacation. Ma couldn't have told Leung that he is a freaking moron and an illiterate. This cursing euphemism is perfectly acceptable in the US polite society. Leung's tone deaf response is likely, "Huh?" Just being curious, did Leung ever pass his School Cert?
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