Opinion | Treating poor service on Cathay Pacific flight as a language issue ignores the real problem
- The better treatment afforded to people who speak English is a reflection of a nationalist complex whereby Chinese people’s belief in their cultural superiority is entangled with a need for Western affirmation
- For some Hongkongers, this is complicated by a sense of superiority over mainlanders
Years ago, I watched a Chinese comedian’s monologue on her experience of flying on a Chinese airline. It was about a flight attendant who had a different attitude towards English-speaking foreigners and Mandarin-speaking fellow citizens. She was very courteous to the former, but much less so to the latter. Of course, the comedian taught her a lesson.
Like the audience in the video, I laughed. We instantly recognised the sad reality that many Chinese people deem English superior to Mandarin, and that people who speak English receive better treatment.
This contradiction has continued to ferment in recent decades, as China has tried to catch up with the West and reposition itself as a regional power. While China has had stellar achievements, it still lags behind in key areas.
The result of this complex is that Chinese people want to be recognised by, and aligned with, the West. Since English is the predominant language of the Western powers, good English-language skills are a natural indicator of this alignment. But, at the same time, bowing to the West is considered disgraceful and people who overtly display this tendency are seen as deserving of punishment. So the flight attendant in the comedian’s story had to be taught some manners.
