lexico
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I found this article browsing through Japan Today. It talks about the language situation in China; Mandarin is the officially taught and spoken standard enforced by the central government. But what about in the far off provinces from Beijing ? From the Pacific coasts ? Not in the schools ?
How many langauges does an average Chinese citizen speak at the market place ? What does the widespread bilingualism in China mean for the future of Mandarin ?
Other questions raised regarding this topic:
1. Exactly how many Chinese langauges are there ? Are they to be considered all "dialects" of one great Chinese language ?
2. Or are they simply independent languages of a common origin like French, German, Russian, and Greek ? How far back does the split go back in time ?
3. What are some good sources to ready up on the Chinese languages (whether dialectal or independent) ?
4. Why aren't Mandarin and Cantonese mentioned as the two major "dialects" of Chinese; and from which to explain all the other "dialects" ?
5. What about the minority languages of China ? How are they treated by the governments and schools ?
6. Re: the teaching of, and cultural activities in,the minority languages; are they encouraged or discouraged ?
Uniting China to Speak Mandarin, the One Official Language: Easier Said Than Done
by HOWARD W. FRENCH, July 10, 2005, The New York Times
Copyright The New York Times
How many langauges does an average Chinese citizen speak at the market place ? What does the widespread bilingualism in China mean for the future of Mandarin ?
Other questions raised regarding this topic:
1. Exactly how many Chinese langauges are there ? Are they to be considered all "dialects" of one great Chinese language ?
2. Or are they simply independent languages of a common origin like French, German, Russian, and Greek ? How far back does the split go back in time ?
3. What are some good sources to ready up on the Chinese languages (whether dialectal or independent) ?
4. Why aren't Mandarin and Cantonese mentioned as the two major "dialects" of Chinese; and from which to explain all the other "dialects" ?
5. What about the minority languages of China ? How are they treated by the governments and schools ?
6. Re: the teaching of, and cultural activities in,the minority languages; are they encouraged or discouraged ?
Uniting China to Speak Mandarin, the One Official Language: Easier Said Than Done
by HOWARD W. FRENCH, July 10, 2005, The New York Times
Copyright The New York Times
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