Mandarin in Shanghai

RJ

November 12, 2008, 10:22 AM

In Hong Kong they speak Cantonese but everyone learns Mandarin in school (english too).

Those born and raised in SH speak a local dialect but again, everyone learns Mandarin in school and it is how they communicate with the many people in SH that are from other parts of China. From what I have seen, Mandarin will serve you well in both places. 

changye

November 12, 2008, 10:39 AM

You will probably have less difficulty communicating in Mandarin in Shanghai than in Beijing, because Mandarin is, more or less, a second language for Shanghainese people (and you). On the other hand, you have to struggle with REAL Mandarin spoken by local people in Beijing.

bababardwan

November 12, 2008, 11:23 AM

chanygye,

Interesting comment.Is this because if it's a second language in Shanghai,they will therefore be more inclined to speak slower/have more patience/have  a more limited vocab,and perhaps also the more formally taught version ?

changye

November 12, 2008, 12:02 PM

Hi bababrdwan,

I'm not sure if Shanghainese speak Mandarin slowly for you, but I guess their Mandarin is more simple, clear and (hopefully) textbookish compared to that spoken by Bejing people. At least, there is no "儿化" in Shanghainese Mandarin.That said, there is a possibility that some people might unconsciously mix some Shanghainese vocab with Manradin vocab!

Incidentally, I've never been to Shanghai, hehe.

bababardwan

November 12, 2008, 01:21 PM

Thanks Changye.I was aware there were some differences [mainly knew of the r sound added at the end sometimes around Beijing] in Mandarin ,and knew of Shanghainese,but didn't realise that Mandarin was so secondary to that and hadn't considered things in this light.Helpful explanation as always.

Thanks RJ also :)

sushan

November 12, 2008, 01:29 PM

I never had problems being understood in Hong Kong between Mandarin and English. However, people didn't always speak Mandarin back to me.