(no subject)

[randomness]

From http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/11/more_on_foreigners_and_their_exotic_languages.php:

Something I like about the Chinese approach to their own language is that it resembles America's approach to English - and differs from the French (or Japanese) attitude about their respective languages. The French and Japanese, in my experience and in general, are prideful about the special elegance of their language, and the unlikelihood that outsiders can communicate effectively in it, let alone elegantly.

Americans are much more utilitarian in their view toward English: they've heard a million versions of it within their own borders (Brooklyn, Alabama, Little Havana, Nigerian emigrants, etc) and expect that everyone should give it a stab. Something roughly similar applies in China. People have heard a million versions of Chinese; often the regional variations make it hard for people to understand each other; but they expect that outsiders should make a stab. So, try we do.

True enough. Even I've heard lots of versions of Chinese, and I haven't even spent that much time there.

Comments

[quezz.livejournal.com]

Where in China is the author getting this idea? It was my experience that the Chinese were not terribly tolerant of different dialects/accents, though the severity of the aversion was directly related to geography (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou first, then smaller cities and regions second.) The exception to that was Yunnan Province and other parts of the extreme West, and the extreme North (Harbin area) probably because there were so many minorities there who hated speaking Mandarin that they tolerated anything. :)

I'm wondering if the author was mistaking Chinese politeness at having to listen to him "take a stab" at Chinese as being "tolerant or accepting." When I started to learn Chinese, I was complimented -- when I learned BETTER Chinese, I was told, "Your Chinese is hai keyi -- but I guess I understand you." I felt much more as though I spoke Chinese after hearing that. Before that, it was all guojiang and I knew it.

It's not to say that the Chinese are not less arrogant about their language(s) (excepted areas already noted) only to say that the author is completely overstating the case.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

He's been in Shanghai for a year and a half, and he's just moved to Beijing.

Check out his blog.