Ordinary Gweilo

about

Shouting

Jan 26, 2004

When I first came here, one of the things I found quite strange was the way that people would start shouting in meetings. Not understanding any Cantonese, I assumed that they were getting upset, but I was assured that this wasn’t the case. So why do it?

Subsequently I discovered that it was a normal feature of life in Hong Kong. Middle-aged women seem to be the worst culprits, but all sort of people do it when talking on their mobile phone, which is particularly irritating on public transport. I’m afraid I can’t help looking at people who do this, in the (vain) hope that they will turn down the volume. Sometimes it even works, and no-one has hit me (yet).

It appears that local television is partially to blame, given the tendency of presenters to shout continuously in an attempt to make things appear more exciting. There is a particularly irritating man who appears on most of TVB’s appalling variety shows, and makes up for his dimunitive stature by dyeing his hair and shouting at the top of his voice in an effort to get noticed. However, most of them seem to do it, and ordinary people in Hong Kong unfortunately seem to be copying them.

Please! Turn down the volume before we all go deaf! Now! Doh jeh hahp jok.

Posted in Life in Hong Kong

13 responses to “Shouting”

Confused

Jan 26, 2004

But if you can’t speak any Cantonese then how can you dismiss local variety shows as “appalling”? scratches head

LikeLike

Reply
fumier

Jan 26, 2004

The irritating guy is Eric Tsang, who appears on just about everything with that great tub of lard who also shouts a lot, Lydia Shum.
There is also that very effemniate looking guy, Vinci, as well as a host of other talentless turds.
And yet there are smart (in all senses)presenters like Anna (forget her last name) and Wong Chi Wah (sp?) who only get an occasional look in.

LikeLike

Reply
Chris

Jan 26, 2004

Dear Confused,
I said that when I was first here I didn’t understand any Cantonese. I think we can assume that I have learned something in the past few years.
As for the variety shows, I’m not sure how much more I need to know about eating contests between so-called celebrities. However, if there is a meaningful sub-text that I am missing due to my limited Cantonese, do please enlighten me.

LikeLike

Reply
Chris

Jan 26, 2004

“Fei Fei” (Lydia Shum) was the first TVB “celebrity” whose name I learned. Apart from that, I know that she has a daughter who is also on the large side, and that her comedy hair is a wig that she only wears when she’s on TV.

LikeLike

Reply
PC PLOD

Jan 27, 2004

The “Shouting” aspect in HK is a perennial expat gripe. I have heard many theories about why this is so, some credible, some incredible. Here are just some of them…
a) As many kids are traditionally brought up by their aging grandparents, they tend to shout at them because they are going deaf. The habit then stayed.
b) The “Face” aspect of Chinese culture. The one with the biggest voice has the biggest face.
c) The Chinese language is solely tonal and unless you properly and clearly enunciate your speech, confusion can occur. Raising your voice only ensures that you are being understood.
As for the usual explanation that due to HK being crowded and cramped you have to raise your voice to be heard, is completely false. Anybody who has been to the Mainland, Taiwan or spent time around the world with the Chinese diaspora will realise they ALL do it.
When I first came to HK I remonstrated with various loud individuals, and was met by complete bewilderment. Over time I have become quite philosophical over this matter and believe that it is all part of life’s rich tableau. Wouldn’t living be dull if we all acted the same ?

LikeLike

Reply
Chris

Jan 27, 2004

There was a program yesterday night on TVB Pearl with various “celebrities” watching the fireworks and shouting. I was told that this was because they were excited, and that this was better than being boring like British people.
Your third suggestion also occurred to me, and it could be part of the explanation.

LikeLike

Reply
Richard

Jan 27, 2004

Yet the possibility remains that they shout because they are twats?

LikeLike

Reply
Chris

Jan 27, 2004

Now you might think that, but I couldn’t possibly comment.

LikeLike

Reply
dave

Jan 29, 2004

There is another possibility: Loud noises are believed to scare away evil influences. Hence, a noisy household is a lucky one.

LikeLike

Reply
fumier

Jan 29, 2004

Empty vessels.

LikeLike

Reply
Lloyd

Jan 31, 2004

With regards to the shouting that goes on, I was told by a wise old China hand that the locals do this as it is to show that they are being sincere to the other people who are listening to them…..so as everyone wants to assure everyone else that they too are sincere….up the decibels go. Cant say it ever bothered me except when suffering a monstrous hangover…..which hardly ever happens in HK (Yeah right!).

LikeLike

Reply
Nomad

Feb 16, 2005

[duplicate comment]

LikeLike

Reply
Nomad

Feb 16, 2005

Comment (c) above does not exactly account for the quiet Swedes though, does it? As Swedish too is “solely tonal”. Also, it would not account for how they manage to speak quietly – indeed, whisper – to their kids in bed at night.
One might as well say that “The English language is solely voicing/unvoicing-based and unless you properly and clearly enunciate your speech, confusion can occur. Raising your voice only ensures that you are being understood.”
In short, claptrap.
I think it is simply as, relative to us, they are deaf, in very much the same way, when compared to those from, say, Norway, we are small. Notice also that most of them are as blind as bats.

LikeLike

Reply