Cantonese-English code-switching research in Hong Kong: a Y2K review.

ABSTRACT: This paper is a review of the major works in code-switching in Hong Kong to date. Four context-specific motivations commonly found in the Hong Kong Chinese press -- euphemism, specificity, bilingual punning, and principle of economy -- are adduced to show that English is one of the important linguistic resources used by Chinese Hongkongers to fulfill a variety of well-defined communicative purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]