Linguistically Speaking
I was walking through Chinatown today past the TD bank when I stopped dead in front of a poster they were hanging in the window. There, amongst all the familiar logos and stock photography, were little green and black scratches of Chinese writing -- and not a syllable of English (or French) to be seen.
But instead of getting mad and spouting the usual ignorant stuff about this being English-land, a different thought occurred to me: "I should really learn how to read this stuff... it's everywhere".
Now to be clear, I do feel that all signage in Canada should have at least one of our official languages on it. I do however, think that it's pretty arrogant to take up the position that as an English-speaking person, I don't need to learn a second language. Especially in a multicultural city like Vancouver.
So I'm thinking of taking a language course to help me understand people better. The only question left is which one it should be.
Functionally speaking, Mandarain is the logical choice. It's the #2 most widespread language on the planet after all and the Chinese presence in Vancouver is massive to put it mildly. However, (and no offence intended toward the Chinese community) I don't really like the language. It's tonal and not "smooth" at all really. I'd much rather learn Japanese or Korean despite the fact that they are less useful in my current position.
So I'm asking you for input. As a unilingual anglophone, what language would you choose to learn? What do you think would be best for me? Once you understand it, is Mandarain as unpleasant as I feel it is, or would Cantonese be a better choice?
mandarin right? :)
cantonese is spoken widely here due to the migration patterns of the previous 10 years (e.g. HK handover back to china) so that meant more cantonese speaking people. however, that's changing and since the majority of spoken chinese (in china) is mandarin, your better bet is to learn mandarin since the written language is the same for both dialects. also, you will only find cantonese conversation classes here in the city which does not teach how to read/write.
learning japanese is not a bad idea if you prefer to do that. we have a healthy amount of japanese tourists; they are often linked to technological advances (good for your field) and i've been told it's easier to learn. it is also the top leading asian country. so why not?
Are you telling me that in a city where something like 40% of the residents claim Chinese origin I'm going to have a tough time finding someone to teach me how to read and write the language?
I am leaning toward Thai...after all even this old fool learnt enough to Marry one :-)
Sa-Va-Dee-Crap
Dan, I wouldn't bother learning Chinese. Cantonese especially has added levels of difficulty over mandarin (extra tonal qualities to be aware of).
Besides, the written pictographical language is probably the most difficult in the world. If you just want a challenge, go for it.. otherwise, I'd say Japanese. Or Spanish. So many awesome girls from South America would recommend it. :)
I suggest learning the language of a country you'd most like to spend time in, whatever that may be.
And I know it's typical and uninteresting for a Canadian, but it never hurts to know how to speak French.
i'll 'splain it later to you.
french is a good suggestion but i think dan was traumatized in high school...
Noreen's right. No French pour moi. Madame Bourgeois saw to that.
I'd learn Japanese, if only so I could watch Anime without subtitles/bad voice overdubs. :)
Check the website link that is my name for a different way to start learning how to read Chinese. :)
I've seen it. Quite a neat book, particularly for those who like dim sum. Or perhaps particularly for those who DON'T like it, so you know what the heck it is you're ordering...
Robin: my thinking exactly
Taavi: Neat!
All right, here's the plug for Korean!!
Out of Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean, I think that Korean is easiest to learn how to read and write. It's got very clear structure with what's close to a set of "vowels" and "consonants". I learned some Japanese in high school and while it was comprehensive and reasonably easy to learn in the beginning, it get a lot more complicated and difficult the more I tried to learn. At a certain point, I pretty much hit a wall and stopped gaining much advancement (which was very discouraging). Also, their writing consists of different types of "alphabets", one of which was similar to having to memorize the thousands of Chinese characters (I think it was called Kanji??).
Anyway, I just think Korean is easier to learn and there are certainly a lot of Koreans in Canada.
Just my two cents...
i've also heard that korean is one of the easier asian languages to learn. mostly i concur with lara about the french...although if you don't like french i recommend spanish...if anything it's easier than french and spoken in more countries.
i'm gonna have to concur with annie and theresa about the korean thing...although i might be a little biased living in korea for the past 4 and a half years ;)
but it is maybe the easiest writing system in the world (and the most scientific and logical, so that's why i like it)
anyways, if you learn korean you can send messages to me and jeong yeon on facebook in korean ^^
and you could watch "old boy" without subtitles
I agree with Robin, as nerdy as that makes me.
I also think you should consider why you want to learn another language. if you are doing it for the joy and satisfaction of learning, then you should go for a language that makes you happy. One that you will enjoy speaking and listening to. If you are doing this for practical reasons, then consider what your needs are and figure out which language will best help you reach your goals. What you say about mandarin makes sense. Learning french would also be useful if you're looking at politics since not knowing french could work against you, credibility-wise. of course I see that you're not a fan of learning french. :)
having said all that, I suggest you start with something interesting and/or easy. there's no reason you can't tackle the harder languages later. Why stop at bilingual?
Traumatized? Do you have Vietnam-esque flashbacks every time you hear French or something?
When you choose to learn a language as an adult, you are doing it on your own terms and not on the terms of some evil high school teacher.
Of course, next you're going to tell me that she tied you up and stuffed you in a locker and that's why you're traumatized and then I will feel like a jerk.
This is totally off the lines you were thinking, I realize, but I've always thought it'd be cool to learn sign language.
I actually know a little sign language. I went to an elementary school that combined hearing impaired kids with everyone else and as a result, I picked up a few things (turns out that it's a great way to cheat on spelling tests).
As for my "trauma", you're right of course, Madame Bourgeois never locked me up or anything, but she did make a regular habit of yelling at us, hitting us with newspaper, throwing keys at us and bitching me out personally for defending people.
In short, she was a horrible bitch and when I think of the French language, I think of her.
It's nice to have so many comments on this one though. Not that any one of them is swaying my opinion in any particular way of course... I'm still tied betwen Korean, Japanese and Mandarin still... I may have to flip a coin :-)
I can't believe you actually had a teacher named Madame Bourgeois. That's probably why she was so cranky .. she knew she'd never rise above the middle class. :P
I love this blog- hooked on phonics(sic)
chun-choo-roy-hoopasaw-en-git....translation Hi am Roy-I speak Engish.....works every time in Thailand.
Learning any language is cool!!!!