Below is three English poems, which I learned it from the Enyglish Lession tonight. The poem is easy to read and remember, so it's a good material for English learniing. What is more, the second one is not so easy to understand. Using your heart to read it:)
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Brotherhood
Brotherhood is always around.
It's in the city, it's in the town.n
It's in the country and everywhere.
It's a kind of blessing the we should share.
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To my mother
Robert Louis Stevenson
You too, my mother, read my rhymes
for love of unforgotten times.
And you my chance to hear once more
the little feet along the floor.
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Friendship
I met a little friend
Who came from another land
I couldn't speak his language
But I took him by the hand
We sang together
And have such fun!
Singging is a language
You can speak with anyone.
2/28/2008
2/23/2008
some quote of the day
Leadership quote of the day:
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. ~ Dwight Eisenhower
Einstain quote of the day:
The release of atomic power has changed everything except our way of thinking ... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker. (1945)
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. ~ Dwight Eisenhower
Einstain quote of the day:
The release of atomic power has changed everything except our way of thinking ... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker. (1945)
2/22/2008
JOKE:What animal is this
Eddie's first-grade class was having a game of Name That Animal. The teacher held up a picture of a cat and asked, "What animal is this?"
"A cat!" said Suzy.
"Good job! Now, what's this animal?"
"A dog!" said Ricky.
"Good! Now what animal is this?" she asked, holding up a picture of a deer.
The class fell silent. After a couple of minutes, the teacher said, "It's what your mom calls your dad."
"A horny bastard!" called out Eddie.
2/20/2008
NAIL IN THE FENCE
NAIL IN THE FENCE
A Good Story for Great Friends.....Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence!
There once was a little girl who had a bad temper. Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper, she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger, the
number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. She discovered it was easier to hold her temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the girl didn't lose her temper at all. She told her mother about it and the mother suggested that
the girl now pull out one nail for each day that she was able to hold her temper. The day passed and the young girl was finally able to tell her mother that all the nails were gone.
The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence. She said, "You have done well, my daughter, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one." You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us .
A Good Story for Great Friends.....Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence!
There once was a little girl who had a bad temper. Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper, she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger, the
number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. She discovered it was easier to hold her temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the girl didn't lose her temper at all. She told her mother about it and the mother suggested that
the girl now pull out one nail for each day that she was able to hold her temper. The day passed and the young girl was finally able to tell her mother that all the nails were gone.
The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence. She said, "You have done well, my daughter, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one." You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us .
The Farmer’s Donkey
The Farmer's Donkey
A story from The Feel Good Page
One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was too old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly.
Then, a few shovel-fulls later, he quieted down completely. The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovel-full of dirt that hit his back, the donkey would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of everyone.
The Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to stop wailing, and not let the dirt bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each one of our troubles is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
JOKE:the wrong way
As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his cell phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there''s a car going the wrong way on Route 280. Please be careful!"
"It's not just one car," said Herman, "It's hundreds of them!"
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there''s a car going the wrong way on Route 280. Please be careful!"
"It's not just one car," said Herman, "It's hundreds of them!"
Chinese Poem: A Moonlit Night On The Spring River
A Moonlit Night On The Spring River
原著：张若虚 英译：许渊冲
In spring the river rises as high as the sea,
And with the river's rise the moon uprises bright.
She follows the rolling waves for ten thousand li,
And where the river flows, there overflows her light.
The river winds around the fragrant islet where
The blooming flowers in her light all look like snow.
You cannot tell her beams from hoar frost in the air,
Nor from white sand upon Farewell Beach below.
No dust has stained the water blending with the skies;
A lonely wheellike moon shines brilliant far and wide.
Who by the riverside first saw the moon arise?
When did the moon first see a man by riverside?
Ah, generations have come and past away;
From year to year the moons look alike, old and new.
We do not know tonight for whom she sheds her ray,
But hear the river say to its water adieu.
Away, away is sailing a single cloud white;
On Farewell Beach pine away maples green.
Where is the wanderer sailing his boat tonight?
Who, pining away, on the moonlit rails would learn?
Alas! The moon is lingering over the tower;
It should have seen the dressing table of the fair.
She rolls the curtain up and light comes in her bower;
She washes but can't wash away the moonbeams there.
She sees the moon, but her beloved is out of sight;
She'd follow it to shine on her beloved one's face.
But message-bearing swans can't fly out of moonlight,
Nor can letter-sending fish leap out of their place.
Last night he dreamed that falling flowers would not stay.
Alas! He can't go home, although half spring has gone.
The running water bearing spring will pass away;
The moon declining over the pool will sink anon.
The moon declining sinks into a heavy mist;
It's a long way between southern rivers and eastern seas.
How many can go home by moonlight who are missed?
The sinking moon sheds yearning o'er riverside trees.
春江花月夜
张若虚
春江潮水连海平，海上明月共潮生。
滟滟随波千万里，何处春江无月明！
江流宛转绕芳甸，月照花林皆似霰；
空里流霜不觉飞，汀上白沙看不见。
江天一色无纤尘，皎皎空中孤月轮。
江畔何人初见月？ 江月何年初照人？
人生代代无穷已，江月年年望相似。
不知江月待何人，但见长江送流水。
白云一片去悠悠，青枫浦上不胜愁。
谁家今夜扁舟子？何处相思明月楼？
可怜楼上月徘徊，应照离人妆镜台。
玉户帘中卷不去，捣衣砧上指还来。
此时相望不相闻，愿逐月华流照君。
鸿雁长飞光不度，鱼龙潜跃水成文。
昨夜闲潭梦落花，可怜春半不还家。
江水流春去欲尽，江潭落月复西斜。
斜月沉沉藏海雾，碣石潇湘无限路。
不知乘月几人归? 落月摇情满江树。
2/18/2008
JOKE:The Mexican smuggler
Juan comes up to the Mexican border on his bicycle. He's got two large bags over his shoulders.
The guard stops him and says, "What''s in the bags?" "Sand," answered Juan. The guard says, "We'll just see about that get off the bike." The guard takes the bags and rips them apart; he empties them out and finds nothing in them but sand.
He detains Juan overnight and has the sand analyzed, only to discover that there is nothing but pure sand in the bags. The guard releases Juan, puts the sand into new bags, hefts them onto the man''s shoulders, and lets him cross the border. A week later, the same thing happens. The guard asks, "What have you got?" "Sand," says Juan. The guard does his thorough examination and discovers that the bags contain nothing but sand.He gives the sand back to Juan, and Juan crosses the border on his bicycle. This sequence of events if repeated every day for three years. Finally, Juan doesn't show up one day and the guard meets him in a Cantina in Mexico. "Hey, Buddy," says the guard, "I know you are smuggling something. It's driving me crazy. It's all I think about..... I can't sleep. Just between you and me, what are you smuggling?" Juan sips his beer and says, "Bicycles."
The guard stops him and says, "What''s in the bags?" "Sand," answered Juan. The guard says, "We'll just see about that get off the bike." The guard takes the bags and rips them apart; he empties them out and finds nothing in them but sand.
He detains Juan overnight and has the sand analyzed, only to discover that there is nothing but pure sand in the bags. The guard releases Juan, puts the sand into new bags, hefts them onto the man''s shoulders, and lets him cross the border. A week later, the same thing happens. The guard asks, "What have you got?" "Sand," says Juan. The guard does his thorough examination and discovers that the bags contain nothing but sand.He gives the sand back to Juan, and Juan crosses the border on his bicycle. This sequence of events if repeated every day for three years. Finally, Juan doesn't show up one day and the guard meets him in a Cantina in Mexico. "Hey, Buddy," says the guard, "I know you are smuggling something. It's driving me crazy. It's all I think about..... I can't sleep. Just between you and me, what are you smuggling?" Juan sips his beer and says, "Bicycles."
Daily English: independent
每日英语Daily English
每日一词
independent (a.) 独立的
She loves the freedom of independent travel.
她喜爱自助旅行自由的感觉。
每日一句
Sorry, I put my foot in my mouth.
对不起，我说错话了
这就是当你说了不该说的话时，突然发觉你说错话了，就会这么说。有一次我跟老美在聊天，他跟我说某某人是 Jerk（俚语：A dull, stupid, or fatuous person），想不到他一回头，那人就在我们旁边。他就很快说了一句，"I put my foot in my mouth."（本句选自《小笨霖英语笔记本》） 。
每日对话
Elaine: Oh, no! My stub! I can't believe it―I flushed it down the toilet! [Elaine exits the stall, and sees Mark]
Mark: Excuse me, ma'am! You parked in the handicapped spot.
Elaine: But, but...it was really an emergency! And, my stub...
Mark: Don't tell me you lost it.
Elaine: Ah, umm, kind of.
Mark: That was quick.
Elaine: Well, I, umm, I flushed it...
伊莲：喔，惨了！我的停车卡！我真不敢相信――我居然把它冲进马桶里了！（伊莲离开厕所，看到马克）
马克：抱歉，女士！您把车停在残障停车位上了。
伊莲：但是，但……这真的是非常紧急的事！而且，我的停车卡……
马克：别告诉我，您弄丢了。
伊莲：啊，嗯，可以这么说。
马克：真是迅速啊。
伊莲：这个，我，嗯，我把它冲掉了……
重点解说：
1、 flush (v.) 冲水；形容词是flushing；flush toilet则是指「抽水马桶」
2、 Kind of 可以这么说。
2/17/2008
The duck and condom
Two ducks go on their honeymoon and stay in a hotel. As they are about to make love, the male duck says, ''Oh, we haven't got any condoms. I'll ring down to room service.'' He calls and asks for some condoms.
The woman says, ''OK sir, would you like to put them on your bill?''
''No,'' he says, ''I'll suffocate!''
JOKE:1,000 Valentine's Day cards
A guy walks into a post office one day to see a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them. His curiosity gets the better of him and he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he's doing.
"I'm sending out 1,000 Valentine's Day cards signed, 'Guess who?'"
"But why?" asks the man.
"I'm a divorce lawyer."
2/13/2008
A true letter in company: Becoming a Goal Driven Organization
Message to all ****(company name) Colleagues
When you listen to the music of a symphony orchestra playing a beautiful masterpiece, you might wonder why everything works so perfectly to produce such spectacular sounds. The reason for this is that everyone is playing for a common set of musical instructions and they all have the same set of overall goals and each of their individual goals supports each others goals. The woodwinds support the strings, which in turn support the horns which in turn support the percussions. All individual goals work together to support the overall goal.
There are many similarities between a symphony orchestra and a successful enterprise. There is a direct correlation to a company's ability to set goals and objectives and to manage performance against these.
We have begun a goal setting process for ****(company name) and will roll this effort out over the next few weeks. I have personally established five key goals, which I will use to measure my individual success. These goals are in addition to our collective team goals related to our finances. Each member of the executive leadership team has also established goals, which support my personal goals and goals for ****(company name). My goals focus on the following key areas:
§ Client Acquisition, Retention and Satisfaction
§ Leadership
§ External Relations
§ Strategy
§ Internal Communication and productivity
Over the next few weeks, we will be cascading this goal setting process across the entire organization. You will be asked to develop 2008 individual goals. As you go through this process, think about goals that you can commit to which will support the goals of your individual leader and ****(company name) as a whole. This process will help everyone at ****(company name) align with each other and enable us to accomplish great things.
We will set goals at all levels with all colleagues and we will measure these against our performance regularly.
This goal setting process will become an ongoing process at ****(company name) and will be an integral part of our culture and the way we do business.
Becoming a Goal driven organization will help ****(company name) as we continue to grow and become famous in the market place.
Best wishes for a successful 2008!
When you listen to the music of a symphony orchestra playing a beautiful masterpiece, you might wonder why everything works so perfectly to produce such spectacular sounds. The reason for this is that everyone is playing for a common set of musical instructions and they all have the same set of overall goals and each of their individual goals supports each others goals. The woodwinds support the strings, which in turn support the horns which in turn support the percussions. All individual goals work together to support the overall goal.
There are many similarities between a symphony orchestra and a successful enterprise. There is a direct correlation to a company's ability to set goals and objectives and to manage performance against these.
We have begun a goal setting process for ****(company name) and will roll this effort out over the next few weeks. I have personally established five key goals, which I will use to measure my individual success. These goals are in addition to our collective team goals related to our finances. Each member of the executive leadership team has also established goals, which support my personal goals and goals for ****(company name). My goals focus on the following key areas:
§ Client Acquisition, Retention and Satisfaction
§ Leadership
§ External Relations
§ Strategy
§ Internal Communication and productivity
Over the next few weeks, we will be cascading this goal setting process across the entire organization. You will be asked to develop 2008 individual goals. As you go through this process, think about goals that you can commit to which will support the goals of your individual leader and ****(company name) as a whole. This process will help everyone at ****(company name) align with each other and enable us to accomplish great things.
We will set goals at all levels with all colleagues and we will measure these against our performance regularly.
This goal setting process will become an ongoing process at ****(company name) and will be an integral part of our culture and the way we do business.
Becoming a Goal driven organization will help ****(company name) as we continue to grow and become famous in the market place.
Best wishes for a successful 2008!
JOKE:Sex Therapy - Florida Style
A Florida couple, both well into their 80s, go to a sex therapist's office. The doctor asks, "What can I do for you?" The man says, "Will you watch us have sexual intercourse?" The doctor raises both eyebrows, but he is so amazed that such an elderly couple is asking for sexual advice that he agrees. When the couple finishes, the doctor says, "There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way you have intercourse." He thanks them for coming, he wishes them good luck, he charges them $50 and he says goodbye. The next week, however, the couple returns and asks the sex therapist to watch again. The sex therapist is a bit puzzled, but agrees. This happens several weeks in a row. The couple makes an appointment, has intercourse with no problems, pays the doctor, then leave. Finally, after 5 or 6 weeks of this routine, the doctor says, "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Just what are you trying to find out?" The old man says, "We're not trying to find out anything. She's married and we can't go to her house. I'm married and we can't go to my house. The Holiday Inn charges $98. The Hilton charges $139. We do it here for $50, and I get $43 back from Medicare...!
JOKE:A wise old gentleman
A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.
The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact, I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing."
The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trashcans.
After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. "This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on, I'll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans."
The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they accepted his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.
"Look," he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?"
"A freakin' quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, dude. We quit!" And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.
2/12/2008
Survival of Cantonese People & Language ---- a debate in ChinaHistroyForum
The original url: http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16188&st=0 Survival of Cantonese People & Language | |
 Feb 11 2007, 12:50 AM Post #1 | |
 State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎)  Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 688 Joined: 14-September 06 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 4,115 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Ethnicities,Peoples Specialisation/Expertise: Southern Chinese Dialects and People  | Is the survival of Cantonese people and the language possible? Personally, I really don't know..lol Well the only countries or cities that teach Cantonese is Hong Kong, Macao and some overseas chinese communities(ie US, Canada, UK, Australia, Malaysia, etc). Guangdong province, the birth of the Cantonese(plus the non-cantonese: Guangdong Hakka and Teo Chiu) language, culture and people ...doesn't even teach it anymore(i don't know since when?! does anyone know?). In addition, many of the Chinese who live overseas will eventually loose their language and Chinese(Cantonese) will die out. Hong Kong and Macao seems to be the only places that teach & practice cantonese language & culture..and there are even many westerners who live there who can speak Standard Cantonese  : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uaNpyX29fo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs5CWBXm-JA...ted&search= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rst3xh3h_1Y...ted&search=Solutions: for some people, it's Hong Kong independance. This post has been edited by Andy Lau: Feb 11 2007, 12:57 AM |
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| Feb 11 2007, 04:18 PM Post #2 | |
| Grand Marshal (Da Sima/Taiwei 大司马/太尉) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 1,450 Joined: 18-January 05 Member No.: 398 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Philosophy Specialisation/Expertise: Chinese Philosophy, Christianity | No one is going to change the policy to officially teach Cantonese in Hong Kong. Personally, I'd say there are greater things to worry about at this point (not to say Cantonese is not important). Cantonese is still a sub-variant of Han language and culture in general. We need to have a way to preserve the essence of Han language and culture even among overseas Hanren no matter how many generations they have lived outside China. I mean Han language and culture in a more general sense, transcending local variations. I actually think Religion is a good vehicle for the preservation of language and culture. The Muslims, because of their religion, never lose their language and culture no matter where they go for example. I think sometimes people exaggerate the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin. The truth is, linguistically speaking northern and southern Han dialects are still far closer to each other than each of them is to non-Han languages in the north and the south respectively. |
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| Feb 11 2007, 04:20 PM Post #3 | |
| Grand Marshal (Da Sima/Taiwei 大司马/太尉) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 1,450 Joined: 18-January 05 Member No.: 398 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Philosophy Specialisation/Expertise: Chinese Philosophy, Christianity | Hong Kong independence is certainly not the way to go in my opinion. The biggest threat to Cantonese language and culture does not come from mainland China, but from the waves of Western globalisation. Chinese people now more than ever need to unite more in the cultural sense. |
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| Feb 11 2007, 05:52 PM Post #4 | |
| State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 688 Joined: 14-September 06 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 4,115 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Ethnicities,Peoples Specialisation/Expertise: Southern Chinese Dialects and People | QUOTE(somechineseperson @ Feb 11 2007, 05:20 PM) [snapback]4875492[/snapback] Hong Kong independence is certainly not the way to go in my opinion. The biggest threat to Cantonese language and culture does not come from mainland China, but from the waves of Western globalisation. Chinese people now more than ever need to unite more in the cultural sense. I agree w/ unity..but preservation of local variants is also essential too. Ok..Cantonese won't die out in Guangdong...cuz of Hk. But how about Shanghainese..the gov't is prohibiting the usage of it on television and radio? |
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| Feb 11 2007, 07:11 PM Post #5 | |
| General of the Guard (Hujun Zhongwei/Jinjun Tongshuai 护军中尉/禁军统帅) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 109 Joined: 22-November 06 Member No.: 5,101 | Cantonese will most likely never die out but what about Taishanese or Teochew? Aren't these dialects faced with an even greater dilemna? |
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| Feb 11 2007, 08:07 PM Post #6 | |
| State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 688 Joined: 14-September 06 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 4,115 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Ethnicities,Peoples Specialisation/Expertise: Southern Chinese Dialects and People | QUOTE(YuenKamSiu @ Feb 11 2007, 08:11 PM) [snapback]4875504[/snapback] Cantonese will most likely never die out but what about Taishanese or Teochew? Aren't these dialects faced with an even greater dilemna? Well as a Taishanese person/speaker, i know it is going to die(even other cantonese dialects, such as Zhongshan hua, Shunde hua, etc) in a couple of centuries from now, to be replaced by Standard Cantonese(Guangzhou or Hong Kong variant) or maybe Mandarin. Since many Taishanese can understand Standard Cantonese quite well, we don't see the Standard alien. Taishanese is a dialect of Cantonese...so it's not really a threat. I am not Teochew..so i can't say anything on their behalf. The protection of a Standard Local dialect (ie: Shanghainese would be the representaion of Standard Wu) is essential, as Mandarin is to the Northern people above the Yangtze River. If Sun Yat Sen made Standard Cantonese the official language of China(which was very possible..since more than half of the MP's were Cantonese), the people from the far North would be complaining like i am(including Hokkien and Hakka speakers in Taiwan) presently. This post has been edited by Andy Lau: Feb 11 2007, 08:16 PM |
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| Feb 12 2007, 12:43 AM Post #7 | |
| State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 688 Joined: 14-September 06 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 4,115 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Ethnicities,Peoples Specialisation/Expertise: Southern Chinese Dialects and People | What i don't understand is why doesn't the PRC Gov't in Peking want to change the official language policy in Hong Kong; where Cantonese and English are the official language only(not mandarin)? and where in the rest of China...mandarin is a must. This post has been edited by Andy Lau: Feb 12 2007, 12:47 AM |
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| Feb 12 2007, 07:34 AM Post #8 | |
 State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎)  Group: Moderator Posts: 592 Joined: 27-December 06 From: Massachusetts Member No.: 5,591 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese History | QUOTE(Andy Lau @ Feb 12 2007, 01:43 AM) [snapback]4875542[/snapback] What i don't understand is why doesn't the PRC Gov't in Peking want to change the official language policy in Hong Kong; where Cantonese and English are the official language only(not mandarin)? and where in the rest of China...mandarin is a must. H Andy, Contrary to of media hype, the PRC government in Peking does not administer HK; the HK SAR government does and is supposed to do so until 2047. The move to have more mandarin education in HK was largely a pragmatic (also admittedly ideological) move initiated by local HK people in recent years. It has been premised on the growing importance of mainland China in the region and in the world. I know of no evidence of overt imposition from Peking nor does anyone think that this would be forthcoming in the short to medium term. Best, Richard -------------------- 三人行，必有我� 正心、修身、�家、治�、平天下 |
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| Feb 12 2007, 09:30 AM Post #9 | |
 Grand Marshal (Da Sima/Taiwei 大司马/太尉)  Group: Admin Posts: 1,273 Joined: 28-August 06 From: Rockford, MI Member No.: 3,869 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese History Specialisation/Expertise: General Chinese History and Culture | In a sense, lesser known languages will become less and less used because other languages are more practical for communication. It's not because one language is "better" than another language, but one is more understood by a wider audience and, hence, is more effective. Progressing science/technology and an ever-growing global community increase the value of English and Hanyu Chinese for economic, political, and not to mention plain practical purposes, eg a German visits France and speaks to a Frenchman in English. There is a reason why CHF is in English... Hopefully, those who speak lesser known languages will continue to use them and retain their cultural heritage, but language evolution is against them. -------------------- Avatar compliments of Lord Yoda Please nominate your favourite threads on the "Forum Favourites" thread. |
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| Feb 12 2007, 11:18 PM Post #10 | |
 General of the Guard (Hujun Zhongwei/Jinjun Tongshuai 护军中尉/禁军统帅) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 118 Joined: 9-April 05 Member No.: 753 | Unless more and more cantonese speakers marry mandarin speakers and producing only mandarin speaking children, then cantonese will die out. However, as there are so many television programs and songs in cantonese, the dialect will last for a long time. The cultural prevalence of cantonese promotes the dialect in a sense. |
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| Feb 13 2007, 12:07 AM Post #11 | |
| State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 688 Joined: 14-September 06 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 4,115 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Ethnicities,Peoples Specialisation/Expertise: Southern Chinese Dialects and People | actually..it depends on where the couple decides to live. If a cantonese speaker marries a mandarin speaker and lives in HK, Macao or Guangdong...most likely the child will speak cantonese at home and w/ frds. If they live in Taiwan or somewhere else in the mainland besides Guangdong province +hk + macao, mostly likely the child will speak Mandarin at home + outside. If overseas..most likely Cantonese or both. I have an uncle who went to Beijing for his studies(University) and married a beijinger and came to Montreal(in the 70's) and surprisingly she can speak Taishanese very well(with abit of an accent)..lol This post has been edited by Andy Lau: Feb 13 2007, 12:10 AM |
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| Feb 13 2007, 12:10 AM Post #12 | |
| General of the Guard (Hujun Zhongwei/Jinjun Tongshuai 护军中尉/禁军统帅) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 118 Joined: 9-April 05 Member No.: 753 | QUOTE(Andy Lau @ Feb 13 2007, 01:07 AM) [snapback]4875728[/snapback] actually..it depends on where the couple decides to live. If a cantonese marries a mandarin person and lives in HK, Macao or Guangdong...most likely the child will speak cantonese at home and w/ frds. If they live in Taiwan or somewhere else in the mainland besides Guangdong province +hk + macao, mostly likely the child will speak Mandarin at home + outside. If overseas..most likely Cantonese or both. I have an uncle who went to Beijing for his studies(University) and married a beijinger and came to Montreal(in the 70's) and surprisingly she can speak Taishanese very well(with abit of an accent)..lol So as long as the child speaks cantonese, the dialect will survive. Nothing to worry about, especially with the advent of television and cantonese pop. |
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| Feb 13 2007, 12:12 AM Post #13 | |
| State Undersecretary (Shangshu Lang 尚书郎) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 688 Joined: 14-September 06 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 4,115 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Ethnicities,Peoples Specialisation/Expertise: Southern Chinese Dialects and People | but i don't know what's the case in Guangdong actually..there's like over 30 million migrant workers residing in Guangdong from outside Guangdong who speak mandarin. Look at Shenzhen..the majority r non-locals... What'S going to happen when they form the majority in GZ. This post has been edited by Andy Lau: Feb 13 2007, 12:13 AM |
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| Feb 13 2007, 12:17 AM Post #14 | |
| General of the Guard (Hujun Zhongwei/Jinjun Tongshuai 护军中尉/禁军统帅) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 118 Joined: 9-April 05 Member No.: 753 | QUOTE(Andy Lau @ Feb 13 2007, 01:12 AM) [snapback]4875730[/snapback] but i don't know what's the case in Guangdong actually..there's like over 30 million migrant workers residing in Guangdong from outside Guangdong who speak mandarin. Look at Shenzhen..the majority r non-locals... What'S going to happen when they form the majority in GZ. I don't believe most migrant workers in Guangdong speak mandarin. It is more likely that they came from the surrounding regions, the rural areas outside Guangdong. Also, standard mandarin is mostly spoken in Beijing and surrounding areas, which are too far from Guangdong. |
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| Feb 13 2007, 04:44 PM Post #15 | |
| Grand Marshal (Da Sima/Taiwei 大司马/太尉) Group: Entry Scholar (Xiucai) Posts: 1,450 Joined: 18-January 05 Member No.: 398 Main Interest in CHF: Chinese Philosophy Specialisation/Expertise: Chinese Philosophy, Christianity | QUOTE(Publius @ Feb 12 2007, 03:30 PM) [snapback]4875595[/snapback] In a sense, lesser known languages will become less and less used because other languages are more practical for communication. It's not because one language is "better" than another language, but one is more understood by a wider audience and, hence, is more effective. Progressing science/technology and an ever-growing global community increase the value of English and Hanyu Chinese for economic, political, and not to mention plain practical purposes, eg a German visits France and speaks to a Frenchman in English. There is a reason why CHF is in English... Hopefully, those who speak lesser known languages will continue to use them and retain their cultural heritage, but language evolution is against them. It's not so simple. I know in Western philosophy you like to have a simplistic linear view of everything, as if evolution is always "just in one direction" (nevermind what that actually means), but the way of the universe tends to be quasi-cyclic, "long united, it will divide, long divided, it will unite". The "end of history" will never ever come. I'm sorry to say this, but I think this view is literally delusional. The Americans may in their arrogance think their political and cultural institutions will forever rule the world for an eternity, but one day they will fall too, just like every great empire fell before them. |
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