Words that divide: a corpus and thematic analysis of a non-inclusive term “Northern Girl”

This study investigates the sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic implications of a non-inclusive Cantonese term 北姑 bak1gu1 (‘northern girl’), which refers to women from Mainland China in Hong Kong. Corpus analyses reveal that bakgu is predominantly used in informal, pejorative contexts, often with discriminatory and sexualized connotations. A thematic analysis of interview data highlights significant differences in perception between locals and non-locals, shaped by geographical origins, language identity, and sociocultural contexts. While locals associate the term with its second morpheme, gu1 (‘girl’), reflecting gendered and sexualized connotations, non-locals focus on the first morpheme, bak1 (‘north’), interpreting it as a marker of their outsider status. Furthermore, native Cantonese-speaking non-locals perceive the term to exclude them due to their linguistic affiliation, whereas non-native Cantonese speakers view it as a general reference to Mainland women, amplifying their sense of exclusion. This study underscores the role of non-inclusive language in reinforcing social hierarchies, regional identities, and marginalization, contributing to broader discussions on language, discrimination, and inclusivity. The findings have implications for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in transcultural education and beyond.