Dialects --- YES or NO?

europology · Forum Administrator

Dialects --- YES or NO?

europology · Forum Administrator

Plus, the Chinese have 2 things that they should be proud of, besides owning a 2000-year-old legacy. One is the Chinese form the largest ethnic race in the world. The another one is the unified language of the Chinese --- Mandarin Chinese, is the world's largest language with the most native speakers.

Stupid Antique · General

There are plenty of bananas here at Taylor's College. In fact, in my unit, I'm actually the only one who can speak Mandarin Chinese fluently. Hehe......should I be proud of myself?

europology · Forum Administrator

Of course! These 'bananas' should be ashamed of themselves! Being a Chinese and don't know how to speak their mother tongue! Imagine that! Are those 'bananas' yellow in colour? Just wondering lol......

Jay · Deacon

'Bananas'? Does it mean that those Chinese only speak English? If in Australia, they call those people 'ABCs'.

europology · Forum Administrator

Yes. Mmm...... It seems like each nation has its own way for calling these people. Interesting. Maybe next time you'll find a new meaning for 'banana' in the most updated English-language dictionary. One is an elongated, usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft, usually yellow rind. The other would be an Easterner who doesn't speak his or her mother tongue, and only speaks Western languages.

-- Edited by europology at 13:01, 2005-02-15

Jay · Deacon

Some Chinese immigrants in Australia don't speak Mandarin at all. They just want to show off their English tongue even though they have just been here for several months only. I don't think they speak the language well, but they keep speaking and speaking their "poor English". I just can't stand that!

europology · Forum Administrator

Not speaking of Western nations, which include Australia. Even in Eastern countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, 'bananas' are so abundant, you can find their traces almost everywhere, predominantly in major urban areas. What's more, the most shocking truth is they are overwhelmingly, you guess it --- Chinese! This is such a phenomenon. I just can't understand why is it mainly occurs on Chinese and on the other hand seldom occurs on other races? It seems like these 'bananas' are not grateful and satisfied with their rich heritage.

-- Edited by europology at 13:02, 2005-02-15

Christian · Knight

quote:
Originally posted by: europology
"I'm a Chinese. In my opinion, all Chinese should give priority to Mandarin Chinese when they are talking to another Chinese, not by conversing regional dialects, such as Cantonese and Hakka. This scene is really common nowadays. I even met those (Chinese descendants) who don't even know how to speak the Chinese languages! They're mostly English-speaking. If they do, they only know how to speak regional dialects, but not Mandarin Chinese. I'm especially irritated when knowing that some Chinese hate their language or refuse to speak their language. Why? Is it a big shame of being a Chinese and speaking Chinese languages as well? These people are the so-called "Banana Men". Like the banana, they're yellow on the outside (Chinese), but white on the inside (Westernised). These people are the shame of the rich Chinese heritage which has fluorished for over 2000 years."

i really agree! you have great insight into culture. I am sickened by the rasce to learn english - the ugliest, most backward language. and i agree about Mandarin also. "Banana Men" makes me laugh - it is a great word-picture, and SO true

europology · Forum Administrator

quote:
Originally posted by: Christian
"
I am sickened by the rasce to learn english - the ugliest, most backward language. "

Hmm...... English is not as worse as you've said. English is the only recognised global language, and it's the most widely spoken language in the world in terms of speakers (native speakers & second language speakers). In a melting-pot society as in the U.S.A., many later generations of the early immigrants there couldn't speak their native tongue. They are mostly unified by the common language --- American English. Could it be the 'American dream' that shatters their intentions of going back to their roots? According to Wikipedia, more than 45 million Americans claim to have German ancestors, but only 1.5 million of them speak German at present. There are also more than 13 million Americans claim to have French ancestors, unfortunately there are also only 1.5 million of them speak French today. Quite sad......

-- Edited by europology at 13:02, 2005-02-15

Stupid Antique · General

quote:
Originally posted by: europology
"Maybe next time you'll find a new meaning for 'banana' in the most updated English-language dictionary. One is an elongated, usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft, usually yellow rind. The other would be an Easterner who doesn't speak his or her mother tongue, and only speaks Western languages."

The word 'banana' is used only for Chinese people who can't speak their mother tongue, I think, not just for any Easterner, cos it's yellow outside, that represents us Chinese, but when you look inside, it's actually white, like Westerners. Anyway, I haven't heard of people from other races who can't speak their mother tongue yet. Is there?

-- Edited by europology at 13:09, 2005-02-15

europology · Forum Administrator

Of course! Take a look at the examples I've given above, which are about the Americans. Some more, Sikhs (or Punjabis) in Malaysia mostly don't speak their native tongue, which is Punjabi. They are mostly well-educated and speak English as their first language. Malaysian Sikhs form a high-ranking social class as the majority of them are wealthy lawyers and doctors.