Ho ho, I wonder if people are having a nice discussion about dialects in language class. I can more or less imagine what they are saying.
Anyway, I do not agree with the various 'theories' that have been spoken of.
I am not going to bother going into the theories that will be taught in the language class but I shall just list some anecdotal 'evidence' of my own.
I found Mandarin hard and it was not because of dialects because I am hardly a dialect user. Neither did I dislike Mandarin because it was hard. In fact, I had very good teachers in primary school so I appreciated it although it was hard for me.
The husband was and still is a prolific dialect user. He had no problems with Mandarin. In fact, As in Mandarin were practically a way of life for him.
The boy was a prolific dialect user (rare for his age) in his early years. He did very well in Mandarin in lower primary. Today, he is a much less prolific dialect user (but still a dialect user and still rare for his age) and he is doing much less well in Mandarin.
So... what should we conclude about dialects and Mandarin?
I think Bear Hug will remind me not to be so politically incorrect. I can't help it lah. I really really prefer watching Cantonese shows in Cantonese.
Anyway, I do not agree with the various 'theories' that have been spoken of.
I am not going to bother going into the theories that will be taught in the language class but I shall just list some anecdotal 'evidence' of my own.
I found Mandarin hard and it was not because of dialects because I am hardly a dialect user. Neither did I dislike Mandarin because it was hard. In fact, I had very good teachers in primary school so I appreciated it although it was hard for me.
The husband was and still is a prolific dialect user. He had no problems with Mandarin. In fact, As in Mandarin were practically a way of life for him.
The boy was a prolific dialect user (rare for his age) in his early years. He did very well in Mandarin in lower primary. Today, he is a much less prolific dialect user (but still a dialect user and still rare for his age) and he is doing much less well in Mandarin.
So... what should we conclude about dialects and Mandarin?
I think Bear Hug will remind me not to be so politically incorrect. I can't help it lah. I really really prefer watching Cantonese shows in Cantonese.
Comments
Anyway, X-tongfang, you are the queen of Teochew AND you are good in both English and Mandarin. Bear Hugs, are you another Teochew queen, since you are also good in both?
BTW, X-tongfang, our friend P also commented on the Peranakans speaking Mandarin thing... hee hee...