From Mandarin to Cantonese; Hakka to Hokkien, the Chinese language is filled with a diversity of similar yet different sounding dialects. However, in an article from the Malaysian news portal named the Malaysian Chronicle, it shows that this diversity is slowly being wiped out: Since 1946 to the beginning of 2014, AiFM has been Malaysia’s most loyal radio station to broadcast daily news in different Chinese dialects i.e. Hakka, Cantonese, Teochew and Hokkien. The recent end to this daily 30-minute program was on the pretext that AiFM had to reduce costs. The article states that the Chinese community, especially the older audience who only understand dialects, particularly those living in rural areas, will be greatly affected. “These people can only understand the major developments within the country through dialect news programs. Stopping dialect news will rob them off their only opportunity to keep in touch with the outside world.” The news portal Straight.com also reports that the heritage of the Cantonese dialect are slowly beginning to die out as Chinese parents all around the ...
Amy Chua utilizes evidence to verify that Western parenting practice is wrong and not as effective as Chinese parenting practice. In her article, Chua comments, “Chinese parents can do things that would seem unimaginable-even legally actionable-to Westerners, “Hey fatty-lose some weight.” By contrast, Western parents have to tiptoe around the issue” (Chua 54). She also gives her observation as evidence to convince Westerners treat their kid wrongly. She adds her observation in her article “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” “I also once heard a Western father toast his adult daughter by calling her “beautiful and incredibly competent.” She later told me that made her feel like garbage” (Chua 54). Brooks, in opposite, does not fight against to prove Chinese parenting techniques are completely wrong. However, he just want to give evidence so that Chua and Chinese, in common, understand Western parenting practices are good in some ways. In Brooks’ article, he clears, “So I’m not against the way Chua pushes her daughters” (Brooks 59). Furthermore, David Brooks writes in his article “I wish she recognized that in some important ways the school cafeteria is more intellectually demanding than the library” (Brooks
Ghana was a British colony and most people there spoke English. The small native languages in Ghana were trampled because of the English language. When Ghana was able to get their independence from Britain, they rebuilt Ghana. After talking about Ghana, the video goes all the way to China. In China there are many people that speak Changsha Hua which is a dialect of Mandarin. The lady that was being interviewed in this segment talked in her native tongue, Changsha Hua. She was taught the dialect, but in school, she was taught Mandarin. The Chinese government wants people to speak Mandarin because it 's the most spoke languages around the world. Many jobs in China you have to be able to speak Mandarin. The lady in the interview said that when she has kids she will not teach them Changsha Hua because she does not think there is a need for them to know. I see how Changsha Hua is starting to become a loss
By juxtaposing both the English and Mandarin language, Wong is effectively showcasing and questioning the institutional dominance the English language may possesses over both worldwide linguistics as well as individual’s freedom of expression; Stating we may need to break free from the constraining borders English may pose on an individual, and instead write or speak in any way we wish in hopes of effectively getting our point across. The narrator wants herself and others to break free from the strict dominant borders, empowering others to live a life filled with full freedom of expression regardless of one’s style of writing or minority
There are big differences in how Chinese mothers act towards their children compared to Western mothers including the expression of feelings and approval, the worth of their children, and what is best for them. Amy Chua (2011) incorporates her own personal experiences of being a Chinese mother within her article and compares that to what she witnesses in America.
“By 2050, it is [predicted] that half of the world will be more or less proficient in [English].” (Gerdes 37). Being an Asian-American, specifically Hmong in the United States, there has been a rise in the usage of English rather than our native language Hmong among the new generation; those who were born in the United States. Many are not fluent in Hmong, without keeping the language, elders are unable to pass down their knowledge of the Hmong culture to their children.
We have all been in a situation where we have immigrated to a new country for different reasons regarding, better future, or education. In the book Jade of Peony, Wayson Choy describes a struggle of a Chinese family as they settle in Canada, with their new generation of kids born here, the family struggles to keep their children tied to their Chinese customs and traditions as they fit in this new country. The Chinese culture needs to be more open minded as it limits the future generation’s potential. Chinese culture limitations are seen through the relationship expectations, education, gender roles and jobs.
This is evident in the persistence of elderly characters, such as Grandmother Poh-Poh, who instigate the old Chinese culture to avoid the younger children from following different traditions. As well, the Chinese Canadians look to the Vancouver heritage community known as Chinatown to maintain their identity using on their historical past, beliefs, and traditions. The novel uniquely “encodes stories about their origins, its inhabitants, and the broader society in which they are set,” (S. Source 1) to teach for future generations. In conclusion, this influential novel discusses the ability for many characters to sustain one sole
Yang, Gene Luen, and Lark Pien. American Born Chinese. New York: First Second, 2006. Print.
The United States and China are two very large countries that have cultures that are well known throughout the world. There are many differences between the United States and China, but there are many contributing factors that shape the cultures of these two countries. Language is universal, but there are different meanings and sounds, which vary from one culture to another. In China, citizens speak many languages, but about 94% speak the Chinese language. The difference in dialects was overcome by the written word and eventually a version of Mandrin became the “official speech” (The Cambridge Illustrated History of China, 1996, p.304).
Similarly, in Taiwan, although there are many different languages spoken like Hakka and Minnan, the amount of people who speak them have been declining. For Taiwanese originally came from a language spoken by people in Fujian Province, Mandarin became the only official language. In spite of the decline, scheme has been taken to save them by launching a Hakka TV station.
4. Singlish is a melting pot of many different languages that can sound fun and upbeat to some people, but can make others cringe at the sound of misused grammar. You know you’re speaking with a Singaporean when you hear the reduplication and discourse particles, and the elimination of linking verbs. Singlish is a crucial part of their identity and their culture as it brings everyone together despite their social class.
Besides the misbehaved students and the large classes, all three teachers in the case study by Cheryl Wei-Yu and Cheng Yuh-Show were having difficulties with their accents. (Wei-Yu 10) The students had problem understanding what the teachers were talking and the faculty staff blamed it on them, but the teachers respond that the students are so young so they have difficulty learning the language, because it is a new language, not because of their accent. The only reason the staff reacted like that it is because, Taiwanese schools are more familiar with the American accent. In order to avoid this problem they should not recruit non-American speakers in the program until the students have better comprehension of the language. (Wei-Yu
A few traditions might never again be watched separated from in little pockets of exceptionally traditionalist Chinese.
Hong Kong is one of the most powerful international financial and cultural centres in the world. Due to its great cultural diversity, Hong Kong is considered to be the place “where east meets west”. Between 1841 and 1997 The Great Britain had control over the region. In present, it is officially referred as special administrative region (SAR) of People’s Republic of China. History of Hong Kong indicates that this place had the English as a medium of instruction until 1997, however, afterwards, Hong Kong people started to teach in mother tongue, Cantonese. This report is going to outline the usage and importance of mother tongue at all schools while giving some disadvantages that may occur.
Working with my group for the project gave me a chance not only to understand and learn the group working culture, but also to understand more about my group members or my classmates. Despite some difficulties and discomfort, I thought this was a great learning process that I had ever had in my life.