I am new to being a member on CPOD, but I've been listening for nearly two years now.
I'd like to say somethings about Taiwan, some of which have already been said, but I feel the need for them to be put in my own words. I lived in Taiwan for a very long time. I went to the European High School, in Taipei for all four years of high school. I began learning Mandarin at 12, so I guess it's been 6 years now. I have travelled all over China and Taiwan and heard all these dialects before.
This was a fascinating lesson, accompanied by a fascinating discussion. Yes, a lot of you are snobs and absolute linguistic pricks. Ken and Jenny did a fantastic job and for anyone to consider criticising Ken's accent is conclusive evidence that you're a jerk.
Anyway, that being said, Mandarin is not the only language spoken in Taiwan. It is the OFFICIAL language, but like it was stated earlier, 70-80% of the population speak another Chinese as their native language. Unfortunately, there are lots of people who think like those friends of somebody who think Mandarin is the only language. It is common to think like this, particularly thanks to the KMT, pro-Mainland way of thinking that permeates the country. You rarely run into Taiwanese in Taipei, being staunchly blue (blue is the KMT and green is the opposition DPP party). When you go down south, though, the culture changes entirely. People speak Taiwanese all the time. There's even a difference in how people introduce themselves. In the south you hear only 'I am Taiwanese' but in the north it isn't uncmmon to hear 'I am Chinese'. How sad is that?
Posted on: Dialect Party Mix
November 15, 2008, 05:26 PMI am new to being a member on CPOD, but I've been listening for nearly two years now.
I'd like to say somethings about Taiwan, some of which have already been said, but I feel the need for them to be put in my own words. I lived in Taiwan for a very long time. I went to the European High School, in Taipei for all four years of high school. I began learning Mandarin at 12, so I guess it's been 6 years now. I have travelled all over China and Taiwan and heard all these dialects before.
This was a fascinating lesson, accompanied by a fascinating discussion. Yes, a lot of you are snobs and absolute linguistic pricks. Ken and Jenny did a fantastic job and for anyone to consider criticising Ken's accent is conclusive evidence that you're a jerk.
Anyway, that being said, Mandarin is not the only language spoken in Taiwan. It is the OFFICIAL language, but like it was stated earlier, 70-80% of the population speak another Chinese as their native language. Unfortunately, there are lots of people who think like those friends of somebody who think Mandarin is the only language. It is common to think like this, particularly thanks to the KMT, pro-Mainland way of thinking that permeates the country. You rarely run into Taiwanese in Taipei, being staunchly blue (blue is the KMT and green is the opposition DPP party). When you go down south, though, the culture changes entirely. People speak Taiwanese all the time. There's even a difference in how people introduce themselves. In the south you hear only 'I am Taiwanese' but in the north it isn't uncmmon to hear 'I am Chinese'. How sad is that?
My rant is done.