ABSTRACT
Under the NSL, as more and more words had become taboo or forbidden, the use of language became a fraught issue in the city. This chapter examines how different popular musicians and bands were able to sidestep the linguistic landmines in their songs. It analyzes the works of the young poet, Eric Yip, as well as the seasoned poet and lyricist, Lam Zik, in the new language situation. It also examines the combative rhetorical strategy adopted by the then Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, borrowed from China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy playbook, contrasting it with the boisterous vernacular deliberately adopted by many Hongkongers in response.
