Re: Mixed writing systems (WAS: Newbie says hi)

Florian wrote:>
> >So, according to you, a Cantonese person's position vis-a-vis Mandarin is
> >alot like mine vis-a-vis English. That, as far as I'm concerned, kills
>off
> >all arguments that using the hanzi system brings linguistic unity to
>China
> >that wouldn't be available with another writing system. (Which, of
>course,
> >doesn't bear at all on the quesion whether hanzi writing is more or less
> >ideal for the Sinitic languages one for one.)
>
>The difference is if they really write cantonese, non cantonese speakers
>will still be able to understand. (and vice versa). They will not feel it
>is the same language, but it will make sense. You can experience it easily.
>Take any standard chinese to a karaoke, and pick up a cantonese song. They
>will understand it. I take the karaoke example 'cause it really occurs
>quite often in real life.
I guess a "standard chinese" is a Mandarin L1-speaker? What am I going to
hear next - "vanilla Chinese?

I might try the next time I meet a Chinese - it's nothing I do on a reg'lar
occasion - provided I can find a karaoke place with Cantonese lyrics ...

Well, if this's the case your analogy with English was pretty bad.


   Andreas

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