Also, it takes away the child's time and energy from mastering English and Mandarin, he said In addition, English and Mandarin differ in their vocabulary, phonetics and syntax and adding on dialects will cause 'negative interferences' in the learning of the two languages, he added.
In defending the decision to promote Mandarin over dialects, he also noted that the value of a language is its usefulness.
With Mandarin, the reach is far greater than dialects: 'If you speak Hokkien or Cantonese, you reach some 60 million in Fujian and Taiwan, or about 100 million in Guangdong and Hong Kong. With Mandarin, you can speak to 1,300 million Chinese from all provinces in China,' he said.
Mr Lee was speaking at the launch of the annual Speak Mandarin Campaign, which he introduced 30 years ago.
Since then, most Chinese Singaporeans have adopted Mandarin over other dialects.
However, about a fortnight ago, the acting head of Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, Dr Ng Bee Chin, sparked a debate when she reportedly said at a language seminar:
'Although Singaporeans are still multilingual, 40 years ago, we were even more multilingual. Young children are not speaking some of these languages at all any more.
'All it takes is one generation for a language to die.'
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_351594.html
Learning dialect is PART OF A CULTURE!
if that folly old man think he is kind of god.. that want to even take culture away..curse him
Lee Kuan Yew being english educated, has such a low opinion of local culture. I don't think that such a person is fit to lead Singapore.
No wonder so many people's local cultural identity has eroded.
How can a country survive without local culture and traditions?
Really disgusted with Lee Kuan Yew.
Well, definitely Poh Ah Pak
胡说八�。i can speak six dialects without much difficulty
For many of us, dialects may not mean a thing. But for many others, dialects refer to our way of life and it's the connection between us and our family.
Honestly, quite appalled at such a decision to kill off dialects. Anyway he doesn't have to worry, dialects will die off sooner or later.....i give it 50 years. Even if you have two hokkiens or cantonese marrying each other, you can be assured they don't speak that dialect at home.
Lim Chin Siong was right after all.
The old anglo dog.
he can't stop you from learning dialect, can he? he didn't run any anti- dialect campaign, just say again his same view... dialect not good.
how he kill off dialect? fine people for speaking it?
U understand bo? For a leader to speak put openly against what many hold closely as roots in their family, that's pretty shitty for a top leader u know.
Originally posted by Ah Chia:Lee Kuan Yew being english educated, has such a low opinion of local culture. I don't think that such a person is fit to lead Singapore.
No wonder so many people's local cultural identity has eroded.
How can a country survive without local culture and traditions?
Really disgusted with Lee Kuan Yew.
local culture identity? is that the one based in ancient china? why must die die follow ancient china culture... even the China is trending towards mandarin, low emphasis on dialect, should we shoot them too?
Singapore local culture is what you see today on the street.... ipods, iphone, all talk english, that's a culture in itself...
Originally posted by Rock^Star:U understand bo? For a leader to speak put openly against what many hold closely as roots in their family, that's pretty shitty for a top leader u know.
i see many people talking to their children in english... getting them to speak chinese is a chore le, want to emphasis on dialect is even harder...
not sure what you think a top leader should be... but i rather a top leader share his views, and not always say things people like to hear.
that way, there will be change. and that way, people will vote against him if they think he is shitty.
Loyal Dog is loyal dog.
Originally posted by Ah Chia:Loyal Dog is loyal dog.
yup
Originally posted by Ah Chia:Lim Chin Siong was right after all.
The old anglo dog.
Who is Lim Chin Siong...why you call him old anglo dog???
a minute of slience to the demise of dialects
Originally posted by Ah Chia:Loyal Dog is loyal dog.
Uncle Chia, last time colony time they Royal dog rite?? very loyal
Originally posted by skythewood:i see many people talking to their children in english... getting them to speak chinese is a chore le, want to emphasis on dialect is even harder...
not sure what you think a top leader should be... but i rather a top leader share his views, and not always say things people like to hear.
that way, there will be change. and that way, people will vote against him if they think he is shitty.
Just like how he rattled off about the shootings and robberies in JB? Hehe...i'm not too sure. I think he should watch his mouth. Leaders should be sensitive to the people.
Anyway, only he gets away with all these. The PM would be in hot soup if he ever says something like that.
Originally posted by Rock^Star:
Just like how he rattled off about the shootings and robberies in JB? Hehe...i'm not too sure. I think he should watch his mouth. Leaders should be sensitive to the people.
Anyway, only he gets away with all these. The PM would be in hot soup if he ever says something like that.
that's why he hasn't been the PM for the last 20 years.
yup
Why you reply?
I was refering to Lee Kuan Yew.
Originally posted by Ah Chia:yup
Why you reply?
I was refering to Lee Kuan Yew.
i agree with you, so i reply.
why you think i reply?
Originally posted by Lin Yu:a minute of slience to the demise of dialects
thank to vulgarities, dialects still manage to survive among we young generation. KNS.
Even in China, no doubt the national language is Mandarin, but they still have dialect among them well perserve and transpire to their youngs.
I think learning dialect is not difficult, you dun hv to write, just speak only, it bring along culture, closeness and belonging, even with dialect, we still excel in our languages both in english and chinese, and infact dialect can be a good tool if you do business with chinese peoples from your ancestor provinces. Once, one of my friend was able to get a special discount for ordering gifts make in China, Hainan, to be distribute in Singapore. And that discount was given when he spoke hainanese to the hainan boss...and they still doing business now.
i quote from a book can?
u all know who is Sim Wong Hoo?
her sister 沈秀梅wrote a book about their mother 《我的妈妈》
a very touching part, when talking about how women was suppressed all along in the olden society, and the Speak Mandarin Campaign had even reduced any meagre chances for these monolingual dialect-speaking women to express their views:
她也说：“亚洲女性很多时候都没有声音，尤其是讲å�Žè¯è¿�动之å�Žï¼Œè®²æ–¹è¨€çš„妈妈没有声音”
meaning: Asian women had no voice, especially after the Speak Mandarin Campaign, dialect speaking mothers does not have a voice any more
i agree with you, so i reply.
It is good that you agree with me skythewood; that Lee Kuan Yew is a dog. At least we have common views on this issue.
At least I now have a comrade here.
Originally posted by Bangulzai:i quote from a book can?
u all know who is Sim Wong Hoo?
her sister 沈秀梅wrote a book about their mother 《我的妈妈》
a very touching part, when talking about how women was suppressed all along in the olden society, and the Speak Mandarin Campaign had even reduced any meagre chances for these monolingual dialect-speaking women to express their views:
她也说：“亚洲女性很多时候都没有声音，尤其是讲å�Žè¯è¿�动之å�Žï¼Œè®²æ–¹è¨€çš„妈妈没有声音”
meaning: Asian women had no voice, especially after the Speak Mandarin Campaign, dialect speaking mothers does not have a voice any more
i don't know who is sim. and yes, you cannot please everyone. I have no solutions for that, except for the mother to learn, and for the child to accompany her more.
Originally posted by Ah Chia:i agree with you, so i reply.
It is good that you agree with me that Lee Kuan Yew is a dog. At least we have common views on this issue.
he is obviously human, but i agree with you he is loyal like a dog, or a loyal dog, as you said.