Comments on: English only, please — this is China

By: Bob Ah-Tye

Bob Ah-Tye — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:25:51 +0000

Don’t have a website at least I don’t think I do. But my comment is whether there is a Caucasian who speaks Chinese mostly with little understanding of other languages. He would be like a counterpart to me in that I am fluent in English with little understanding of Chinese and ethnically I am Chinese fourth generation Chinese American.

By: Ultra Funkular

Ultra Funkular — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:22:07 +0000

justin was in china?

By: Joey The Boy

Joey The Boy — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:48:57 +0000

I’m just kinda proud to say that in the Philippines and Thailand, its quite the opposite, I mean people speak quite fluently here in the Philippines, but most of us are actually quite happy to teach someone about our language and culture, when we here a foreigner say the word “mabuhay”, I usually feel exhilarated and touched..

By: John

John — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:38:16 +0000

Tian,

Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I think you still cling to a few ideas which I don't think are valid, though:

However, we are sure that the foreigner does not understand the full extend of our history, culture which has shaped our psyche.

This may be true, but it's also true that no Chinese person understands the full extent of 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture. But guess what? You don't need to for most communication.

Some cultural knowledge is essential, yes. But you don't need 5,000 years of it.

Saying certain Chinese words or phrases creates a complicated chain reaction in the Chinese irrational psyche which results in many assumptions, negations, and implications. This in turn, dictates the flavor or the flow of the regular conversation in Chinese. So in other words, we often times say things but mean something else depending on the situation. And only another Chinese person would understand this.

Saying one thing and meaning another is an element of communication found in all languages and cultures. It's not actually that tricky; it's all about context. Mastering the fundamentals just takes a couple years' immersion in the culture. No, you don't have to be Chinese to understand.

By: Tian

Tian — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:12:09 +0000

Hi, this blog is very interesting. As a Chinese person who is well versed in both Chinese and Western culture I think the reason for this phenomenon lies in the isolated nationalism spread by Asian governments. To a Chinese person, the idea of globalism is truly a novelty. Keep in mind that regular official contacts between Chinese and Western governments didn't take place until about 100 years ago. That's right, this is simply governmental contacts, we are not even talking about common citizens' interactions yet. So to a country as old as China, which has about 5,000 years of history, knowledge of the western "white" world (if you will) is very limited. Thus, to most Chinese people, a white person is always considered foreign. And his or her ability to speak Chinese would so contradict this affirmed belief in the Chinese psyche that the Chinese counterpart would usually simply reject this fact. I think until about ten years ago, uneducated Chinese people looked at white or black people as aliens from outer space. They have never seen them before. Some even conjectured that black people are strong because they have three testicles (I kid you not). When they see a white or black person, there is an absolute blank in their mind and they don't know how to react to them. Sometimes, it is very difficult for us Chinese to interact with a white or black person who can speak Chinese. A foreigner speaking Chinese symbolizes, to us, an understanding of Chinese culture. However, we are sure that the foreigner does not understand the full extend of our history, culture which has shaped our psyche. Saying certain Chinese words or phrases creates a complicated chain reaction in the Chinese irrational psyche which results in many assumptions, negations, and implications. This in turn, dictates the flavor or the flow of the regular conversation in Chinese. So in other words, we often times say things but mean something else depending on the situation. And only another Chinese person would understand this. Thus, I can totally understand how some Chinese might laugh at a foreigner attempting to speak Chinese. They simply don't understand the culture and the psychology linked to the words they say. Being able to say the language doesn't mean that they understand the language (know what they are talking about). So instead of feeling like talking to an idiot, most Chinese would just simply speak English.

And of course, most Chinese today realize that English is the universal language and there is much to be gained by mastering it. In a country of 1.3 billion people where resources are scarce anything that comes free or potentially free will be taken advantage of immediately. This is unfortunate, but a necessity given the economic conditions.

If a white or black foreigner really want to learn Chinese, I suggest that they master the language first and then really study Chinese history, literature, and culture. The latter trio are an integral part of the language. You cannot say that you have mastered the language until you understand what the words imply.........

By: jing

jing — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:40:20 +0000

well said leeong,

actually its the same in Australia. Im second generation ABC from Sydney N.S.W and was born and raised here to speak english as a first language. But caucasian australians assume that Yellow face=cant speak english/can help them speak chinese.

They speak slowly to you as if you are retarded, and act so patronisingly when you speak in the langauge you were raised in(english) saying such things as "well done, you speak really good english" "you are so well spoken" i mean what do you say to that? Maybe they are placing racial stereotypes on me and think/assume ill speak like "velly solly me no speaka no engrish?" based on my Asian face?

Also most white aussies would call me "chinese" or "asian" never Australian, because they assume that Australian=white. Ive been shopping with Italian tourist friends in Brisbane and the white Australian shop keepers keep speaking english to my Italian friends and ignoring me, even though i told them that they were from Italy and couldnt speak english well.

So ethno-nationalism works the same way across the world i guess.

All the caucasians up in here "complaining" well, now you know how Asian Australians/Asian Americans/Asian Canadians/Asian Europeans feel!

By: Leeong1300

Leeong1300 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:38:00 +0000

I realize this is a blog for white people in China to vent their frustrations and I don’t mean to invade your web space, but I just want to remind you all that this is exactly what Asian-Americans have to deal with their entire lives. It’s even more frustrating when you’re born in the west and weren’t raised to speak your native tongue. My parents immigrated from Asia, but they raised me to speak English so I would have an easier time here, and subsequently I never practiced my native tongue. Unfortunately the racism (which is now supported by a new found white-bred patriotism) here in the US is so strong that it doesn’t matter how fluent your English is or what it says on your birth certificate, people will still see your face call you a gook or a chink behind your back (unless they’re drunk–then they’ll say it to your face) and tell you to go back to where you came from. Come back to the West and share your experiences so that hopefully more people will understand what it feels like. However, I really doubt anyone will change how they feel or act when it comes to this. Blood is blood and it makes up who you are and it doesn’t matter what words are coming out of your mouth. You are what you are.

By: Chris Simpson

Chris Simpson — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:16:08 +0000

Sorry John

Impossible to guage whose language is better, so if your decent, go for your life. Pretending not to understand IS FAIR GAME (many chinese have lated admitted it as a tactic). You will not be shown mercy in educated urban areas.

At my work, other department heads have instructed their staff to sharpen up their english with me (this happens in shops too). My listening is good. Therefore things that could be easily said in 3 seconds takes at least 30 seconds in english.

It is pride, face, and free lessons. Buts its also a lack of respect for strangers. In china there is only friends, family and country.

By: Zhanglihua

Zhanglihua — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:18:19 +0000

Interesting how a blog entry from 2003 still gets several comments each year. I’d like to chime in which an experience I had not long ago. I was going shopping with a good friend of mine (if we hadn’t known each other for 5 years, she’d never have been able to persuade me…). We spoke English with each other, since her Chinese is really decent and she wanted a break from being exposed to it all the time. The shopkeepers who’d heard us talk were a bit confused and unsure whether I was an ABC (nope) or a native (yes), so they spoke English first, but switched to Chinese as soon as we’d established that we’re both comfortable with the language. When we were approached by a police officer, though, things got complicated. My friend had lost her phone as we’d walked past him, so he wanted to return it to her. He insisted to trying to explain the situation in his admittedly abysmal English, not even listening to my attempts to converse with him in Chinese. It took ages to clear the matter up. This situation is extraordinary because I have heard many a tale from foreigners who had to deal with officials who stubbornly refused to try to speak English, even if that lead to total incomprehension if the foreigner couldn’t understand Mandarin.

By: Emanuel Nordrum

Emanuel Nordrum — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:04:39 +0000

I find this disheartening and positive all at the same time. On one hand, as I see it, it increases my odds of being able to survive living in China without my girlfriend at my side at all times to help translate.

On the other hand, I was hoping to be able to rapidly improve my Chinese by virtue of having no choice but to learn. While I certainly don't mind chatting in English for a bit, the thought of locals pretending not to understand me even when I do speak Chinese correctly has me somewhat dismayed. I can't think of anything more counter-productive to learning the language.

Just another challenge to add to the list, I suppose.