On Arbitrariness of Mandarin (Part 2)
Later I realized that my politeness to these people was done. I started to speak Shanghainese in public area. To my suprise, there are more and more people nowadays learn Shanghainese around me and it's always my pleasure to teach them step by step.
In fact, Shanghai is not the only place attacked by the arbitrariness of Mandarin, but it's not my opinion to fight against Mandarin, rather, a common language is vital to the unity of one country. What I still can't understand is why they had to treat local languages like that? Is speaking one's own mothertongue really so damn contradictory to the promotion of Putonghua? Or is arbitrariness one of the finest traditions in the core of this country?
Is language, religion or culture variety a sin?
There must be a solution. Never will I shout to those "intruders" :" Fuck off to the place where you belong to!" Everybody has right to pursue her/his own ideal life. A harmonious society must be built on the basis of mutual respect and understanding. When you go to Xinjiang, try learning some basic Uyghur or Kazak; when come to Shanghai, try some Shanghainese; when you go to Turkey do not order pork and when go to Diaoyu Island tell Japanese to disappear.
Let's try...
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 5
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de acuerdo~
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The first time I hear Shanghainese was during a domestic flight as the plane approached Pudong airport. The message, an introduction to the city of Shanghai, was delivered by a soft and calm voice, yet the pleasant sounds and beauty of the dialect stood out by themselves.
I appreciate this insight into the current status of the dialect, especially since I flirt with the idea of living here long term.
Shanghai towers of babel would probably not be as tall as they are today had such high degree of linguistic homogeneity not been achieved in the middle kingdom... and there is always the risk that dialects become segregating weapons for people to throw at each other.
But given that there is a plethora of ways people can realize their desire to exclude others, and that those desires are not fuelled by the mere existence of different languages, imho the linguistic variety just makes this world a more interesting place to live in
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Яркая звезда!!
Нельзя заставить человека говорить на том или ином языке. Это выбор каждого из нас. Но для того, чтобы люди узнали об этом языке, о нём надо говорить. Благодаря таким людям как ты, многие узнают об этом прекрасном языке. Ты большая молодец!!!
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When I studied there, teachers were required to use putonghua to teach. Well It did do me a great favor at the begining since I couldn't understand shanghainese. But gradually after getting along with my classmates for a long time, I started to get familar with that language. It's a beautiful language. It's a pity I have forgotten most of it over the past few years. :)
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支持你。
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