User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: National Stereotypes

I'm trying to push this thread over a hundred so it gets a mention in the 2011 ChinesePod Logies. :)

Posted on: National Stereotypes

OK I did get distracted by Poms, Kiwis, South Efricans, Yanks etc. Well, I think we use the term 'foreigner' quite a lot in Australia, which is, I understand, technically more multicultural than the UK (we lag the US.)

At least I use 'foreigner' - it is anyone who is not Australian. If you're not sure where they are from. Which is the case for most Chinese when they see a foreigner in China. So 'foreigner' is a harmless descriptive term, much less damaging than our stereotypes. It just means 'not from here'. No-one should be offended.

I haven't ignored your comments about Chinese culture - I just like it more than you. Even their institutions that apparently send you mental - I think there is much to admire, or at the very least much to be learned. I don't think that their democracy is demonstrably inferior to ours. Our institutions are old and tired, worse arrogant ... that much is obvious to even the casual observer. I even think that the Chinese are better at change than we are. So I continue to try to be a good student ...

Posted on: National Stereotypes

Grambers

'foreigner'

I'm afraid that you lot in Olde England may be too choked up by political correctness - you must be too scared to say 'foreigner' in case it offends someone. :)

Here in Australia your lot are all Poms, you hardly ever shower. and (it almost goes without saying) you are always whinging.

Posted on: National Stereotypes

Hi Grambers

It's seems like only yesterday that we were having a little debate...

I don't really want to get into to and fro again - on all your points - but having read your comments I just have to say that I stand by my post. (You have strayed a little from my point but that's okay.) You do realise that you are supporting your comments with stereotypes of both the English and the Chinese? Yes, OK I'm sure that was conscious. :)

I don't agree that the English are being ironic while the Chinese are dead serious, as a generalisation. (Although the English are more inclined to use irony perhaps, and that itself could be ironic.) Again, we all do it, and I see just as much stereotyping in cultures I've been in outside China, as in China. I agree that multiculturalism helps develop tolerance, but not enough to raise us to some high moral ground where we are above stereotyping.

It is also the case that our own stereotyping is less obvious to us - I believe that one has to be trained in detecting stereotypes. Hopefully the younger generation is more aware (in all cultures.)

It's worth a serious debate - so much stereotyping is damaging - so thanks for giving us your thoughts.

Posted on: National Stereotypes

Thanks guys, I had a feeling I'd be wrong, so I expressed it as a question.

I'll check that one out, Greg.,. looks good just from the title. Ah, John's favourite topic. :)

There is also John, Pete and someone else (sorry can't remember, is it Mario?) in the video lesson on a character, and Matt's menu stealers. Why do foreigners go for the video lessons?

Posted on: National Stereotypes

Hi needtutor

You are experiencing that disappointment with dictionaries that every learner of Chinese comes across. Also, unless you have a source with example sentences it is very hit and miss, relying on personal interpretations of both the Chinese and the English.

toianw's link is a good one.

I think it's also a good idea to sit down with a native speaker, preferably a teacher, and discuss 认为 and 觉得 quite thoroughly. You could spend an hour on 认为 .. :)

Posted on: National Stereotypes

Hi needtutor

Jenny is right (of course!) 认为 is the expression you need. It carries the same meaning as assume, when your assumption is based on little or no information.

Posted on: National Stereotypes

By the way, is this the first time we've had a foreign voice actor on a ChinesePod dialogue? My stereotype voice actor here is Chinese-sounding. 

Posted on: National Stereotypes

'Chinese people stereotyping; a stereotype in itself!' 就是！ 

To be honest I haven't noticed Chinese people doing an unusual amount of stereotyping. By this I mean I have not noticed that the Chinese do more of it than Westerners. Truth is, we all do it. Particularly foreigners living in China - we do it to help simplify things we don't understand. 

We laugh at the stereotypes that Chinese people have for the French, the Germans, the Americans, etc., because we generally know more about these cultures than they do. But our stereotypes of the Chinese are just as mindless. 

Posted on: National Stereotypes

Because it helps us get the girls?

(I apologise in advance molixiang if you are a girl.)