I found an interesting article about the Cantonese language a few days ago. Although it was published in 2010, I think it worth notice, especially from me, who have a natural tie to Cantonese. Growing up as a quarter Cantonese, I have the chance to learn the language at an early age. However, my Cantonese does not go farther than basic phrases, such as "Where is the toilet?", "How to go there?", or "What is your name?"
According to the writer, who has been doing business in Guangzhou, the homeland of Cantonese, Cantonese language is counting down its days for seven reasons.
- Everyone in Guangzhou speaks Mandarin
- Everyone in China speaks Mandarin
- Mandarin is the language of business and money
- New York Chinatown kids speak English
- Kids play in Mandarin
- Entertainment is in Mandarin
- Mandarin is taking over Hong Kong
In my opinion, the increasing popularity of China as a growing market for business makes sense for the growing number of Mandarin speakers. Furthermore, English as an international language has also become the top priority for foreign language learners. Nevertheless, Cantonese is a unique language with its unique characteristics, such as the nasal sound, and the Chinese characters. It also has contributed much to the history of Cantonese people and Overseas Chinese Cantonese people. Enjoy it while you can.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to share this article if you like. If you have any opinions, please leave a comment. I love reading them.
Photo credit
Wikipedia