Comments on: Do you speak more Mandarin than 34% of China’s population? http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:06:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris in Liaocheng http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-91660 Chris in Liaocheng Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:32:10 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-91660 I have a really hard time explaining this phenomenon to people who haven't lived or traveled in China, and I think it's an altogether over-looked issue facing China's future in Western media. I lived in the Yunnan area for about two months three years ago, and noticed a huge range of what I would describe as different languages and dialects. Sometimes the difference was so obvious that that I equated it to the differences between languages such as Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Now that I live in Shandong, I hear a lot of different accents of putonghua, like the difference between a new yorker and north carolinian. But were talking like a stock broker and a moonshiner trying to communicate with each other. I don't this is a perfect analogy, but it's I've found that it's a good way for people to understand. I have a really hard time explaining this phenomenon to people who haven’t lived or traveled in China, and I think it’s an altogether over-looked issue facing China’s future in Western media.
I lived in the Yunnan area for about two months three years ago, and noticed a huge range of what I would describe as different languages and dialects. Sometimes the difference was so obvious that that I equated it to the differences between languages such as Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Now that I live in Shandong, I hear a lot of different accents of putonghua, like the difference between a new yorker and north carolinian. But were talking like a stock broker and a moonshiner trying to communicate with each other.

I don’t this is a perfect analogy, but it’s I’ve found that it’s a good way for people to understand.

]]> By: Vivian http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-21096 Vivian Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:23:24 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-21096 Of course there are many languages in China. Many other nations have their languages, but most of them can understand Mandarin and they can speak in it. And some places, such as Shanghai, Guangdong, I think they maybe have other languages, but they also can speak Mandarin. Sometimes we prefer dialect because it is homely. Of course there are many languages in China. Many other nations have their languages, but most of them can understand Mandarin and they can speak in it. And some places, such as Shanghai, Guangdong, I think they maybe have other languages, but they also can speak Mandarin.
Sometimes we prefer dialect because it is homely.

]]> By: Vivian http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-21095 Vivian Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:11:49 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-21095 Hello, I'm a local Kunmingness, I love my local dialect. Actually, our dialect is belong to the Mandarin, just have different pronunciation, the grammer is almost same. Most people in my province can speak Mandarin, maybe someone's pronunciation is not so correct, but it is always the same language. Hello, I’m a local Kunmingness, I love my local dialect. Actually, our dialect is belong to the Mandarin, just have different pronunciation, the grammer is almost same. Most people in my province can speak Mandarin, maybe someone’s pronunciation is not so correct, but it is always the same language.

]]> By: lily http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-19493 lily Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:16:43 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-19493 You are absolutely right!You can speak more mandarin than 34% of chinese population. Well, i think the best places to study chinese are Beijing and Haerbin(the capital city of Heilong Jiang province).Because the dialect there is mandarin. :) You are absolutely right!You can speak more mandarin than 34% of chinese population.
Well, i think the best places to study chinese are Beijing and Haerbin(the capital city of Heilong Jiang province).Because the dialect there is mandarin. :)

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-19302 Elizabeth Sun, 09 Sep 2007 07:16:35 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-19302 @Mom, The T-shirt can be purchased here: http://www.cafepress.com/sinosplice.79781247 @Richard, Don't underestimate your ability to understand the local dialect, too! You probably picked up more than you think. @Mom, The T-shirt can be purchased here:
http://www.cafepress.com/sinosplice.79781247

@Richard, Don’t underestimate your ability to understand the local dialect, too! You probably picked up more than you think.

]]> By: Richard in Kunming http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-19300 Richard in Kunming Sun, 09 Sep 2007 02:01:56 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-19300 I've never heard the figures, but I can't say that I'm surprised. My Chinese is not at all liuli, but I can already easily recognize when nationals are speaking standard Chinese or not. And having done some village trips, yeah, Mandarin has not penetrated very deep into the rural areas. I guess I haven't noticed the problem overly much here in Kunming.... I feel that about 75% of people are understandable. Could well just be the areas I frequent? I’ve never heard the figures, but I can’t say that I’m surprised. My Chinese is not at all liuli, but I can already easily recognize when nationals are speaking standard Chinese or not. And having done some village trips, yeah, Mandarin has not penetrated very deep into the rural areas. I guess I haven’t noticed the problem overly much here in Kunming…. I feel that about 75% of people are understandable. Could well just be the areas I frequent?

]]> By: Mom http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/comment-page-1/#comment-19095 Mom Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:45:30 +0000 http://www.elizabethinchina.com/2007/09/04/do-you-speak-more-mandarin-than-34-of-chinas-population/#comment-19095 I, of course, want the t-shirt! I, of course, want the t-shirt!

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