Like Tree143Likes

Quick question about the language

Closed Thread
Page 8 of 17 FirstFirst ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 ... LastLast
  1. #71

    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Tsim Sha Tsui
    Posts
    3,963
    Quote Originally Posted by jimbo:
    My two cents

    I'm a bbc too, but I don't speak much canto at all.
    At a wet market I get what I need and let them know if it's one catty or two etc. no problem whatsoever.
    I don't get stiffed on the price either as it's clearly displayed.

    I don't get free spring onions but who gives a stuff, they're only a few dollars if I need them anyway.
    Thank you jimbo, now DeletedUser can finally open his eyes that not everyone gets spring onions for free.

    Grunt, where have I implied that? I admit being able to understand both languages I get the best of both worlds, by getting a better insight into both worlds via the use of language. That does not mean I implied I'm better than anyone else. Or any other foreign born Chinese over others in fact. You are barking up completely the wrong tree. I gave my insights, and others on here chose to dismiss it.







    Sent from my GT-N7100 using GeoClicks mobile app

  2. #72

    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Tsim Sha Tsui
    Posts
    3,963

    And just to mess up Grunt's well thought out theory, I'm not in fact a bbc or foreign born. I was born here in HK.



    Sent from my GT-N7100 using GeoClicks mobile app


  3. #73

    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Pearl of the Orient
    Posts
    4,006
    Quote Originally Posted by Proplus:
    And just to mess up Grunt's well thought out theory, I'm not in fact a bbc or foreign born. I was born here in HK.



    Sent from my GT-N7100 using GeoClicks mobile app
    So why can't you read or write Cantonese?

  4. #74

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    6,531
    Quote Originally Posted by Proplus:
    And just to mess up Grunt's well thought out theory, I'm not in fact a bbc or foreign born. I was born here in HK.
    Bloody hell. So anyone who isn't born a.) in HK becoming a native Cantonese speaker, b.) born to Cantonese-speaking parents, is a big loser in Hong Kong and is just living in an expat bubble? Why can't someone who has come here by choice and out of an interest to experience living in different parts of the world experience the culturally thoroughly?
    Do you have any idea how much time and effort it takes to learn a foreign language? Do you have any idea how much rent is in Hong Kong and how most people DON'T have the 20+ hours/week for months on end to learn a complex foreign language?
    Just because I don't have the time to learn Cantonese at a native level doesn't mean I don't experience anything about this culture, and you shouldn't criticize those who do make an effort to understand and enjoy in the world around them. What is wrong with relying on those who are native speakers and have a Chinese heritage to help me achieve that and get the most out of my experience in Hong Kong?
    Yes, you're right, if you're a native speaker, you can learn a lot more about the world around you. Not every one -- regardless of language -- has such an intense interest in history and understanding a culture so in-depth. They may choose to find other aspects of the culture to enjoy when they can. But you have to keep in mind, too, that everyone has different priorities, and, for example, what I'm seeking to get out of my experience in HK is maybe different from you but equally legitimate. (HK is now the 4th country I've lived in in the past 4 years and what I appreciate here is getting a broader perspective of the world... learning in detail the history and culture like you're talking about is something I already did with another country, so it's not what I'm looking for again at this time in my life now.)
    bibbju, kimwy66 and nassaugirl like this.

  5. #75

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    1,154
    Quote Originally Posted by Cwbguy:
    So why can't you read or write Cantonese?
    now that is the question, maybe his parents are "elitists" and sent him to english school? IMO that is really sad....but I think we've already discussed this before.

    In my opinion it never hurts to learn some of the local language, I think learning to greet people in their native language is the least you can do (or how to swear back)
    Elegiaque likes this.

  6. #76

    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    29

    Never would've thought my simple question would turn into a flame war....atleast I got 1 or 2 proper replies...


  7. #77

    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    4,040

    I just ask .. Ge do cheen ah ....and use canto numbers...

    At which time the wet market girls smile, laugh and we all start talking english


  8. #78

    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    4,040
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryks:
    Never would've thought my simple question would turn into a flame war....atleast I got 1 or 2 proper replies...
    You must be new here?
    INXS, kimwy66 and Elegiaque like this.

  9. #79

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    3,471

    1.) You can get by perfectly well here without Cantonese
    2.) A lot of doors will open if you can speak Canto

    I still see many things said on these boards as facts which I know not to be true because I mix with locals.

    When I lived in Sweden I learnt some Swedish, much easier than Canto, really changed life for me there. Suddenly we were able to make friends with Swedish people, (again, you'd be surprised how many can't speak English), it's the only way into the culture.

    So without arguing...it's true that you don't need Cantonese to live, prosper in and enjoy Hong Kong. It's also true that you will only scratch the surface of local culture and knowledge if you don't learn Cantonese.


  10. #80

    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    29
    Quote Originally Posted by closedcasket:
    You must be new here?

    Yeh I am lol. Guess I should join in?
    INXS likes this.

Closed Thread
Page 8 of 17 FirstFirst ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 ... LastLast