Pok Fu Lam’s Chiu Yuen Cemetery, which was built for the local Eurasian community. As the last native-speaking Eurasians pass away, their distinctive “wah-wah-WAH” accent is vanishing, too. Photo: SCMP / James Wendlinger
Opinion
Opinion
Then & Now
The accents of Hong Kong’s Eurasian, Portuguese communities are dying out – and with them a rich local culture, too
- Many Eurasian and local Portuguese English speakers had a distinctive, immediately recognisable “sound”
- This ‘wah-wah-WAH’ pattern of speech was usually more deprecated than celebrated among themselves
Pok Fu Lam’s Chiu Yuen Cemetery, which was built for the local Eurasian community. As the last native-speaking Eurasians pass away, their distinctive “wah-wah-WAH” accent is vanishing, too. Photo: SCMP / James Wendlinger
