Hi everyone,
I apologize for keeping on posting in English at this cafe. But I really cannot help. My excuse is that I cannot type Chinese, although the real reason is that I feel ahamed to write in Chinese here because each of you are a masster of our mother tongue. Before the computer age, I was ashamed to write Chinese because my handwriting is so poor. With computer software, I thought I overcome that difficulty. But I still feel at ease with writing in English because it is an open language that everyone is welcome to use it. The difference between English and Chinese is just like the difference between Mandarin and Shanghai dialect. While everyone is welcome and encouraged to speak Mandarin, one cannot really speak Shanghai dialect unless he can already speak it really well. Otherwise people would say: Come on. Give me a break. So I chose to be an English writer. Sorry for the inconvenience I brought to this cafe.
If I am allowed to keep posting in English here, I would like to ask you this question: Is my observation of the difference between the two langauages accurate? If so, is it an advantage or disadvantage for the language itself? Any comments on that?
- Re: Choice of languageposted on 12/02/2003
Sorry about misspelling of my name in previous post. - posted on 12/02/2003
I cannot speak for others, but feel that to be a master of a language, is an exceedingly difficult matter, and the title cannot be easily earned.
As to the difference between English and Chinese, I feel that it is a personal matter to feel more connection with one than the other. It is unusual to have the comfort level of a second language higher than one's mother tongue, but hey, so what? Don't we all feel at least some times that the English expression is more appropriate in some situation.
You seem to be doing a good job in expressing yourself, transcending the barrier of the languages, so be it, but do not overlook the capacity you may have in another language.
-Lu Han - Thanks for your encouragementposted on 12/03/2003
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