Revive Chinese dialects, find my roots

Chinese dialects (or languages native to specific regions of China) are fast becoming lost languages. In China, the nationwide promotion of Mandarin has caused a generation of young adults who cannot speak the language of their grandparents and ancestors, unless their parents have made an effort to preserve the language at home by speaking it to their children.

In Singapore, the push for "Mandarin as a Second Language" in schools and the "Speak Mandarin Campaign" has almost wiped out dialects among a younger generation of Chinese citizens. Those born in the 1960s and earlier grew up with either Chinese or English education. The Chinese-educated maintained their ability to speak dialects. Those of us who went to English-medium schools ended up largely monolingual i.e. can only speak English and nothing else. I was that way until I was forced to learn other languages for survival. Today, I am an ardent advocate of multi-lingualism.

Now a handful of young adults are trying to revive the learning of dialects, even if only spoken. After all, all Chinese languages use the same writing. Why? Perhaps this generation realises that something is missing from their lives. They've lost the language of their ancestors, making them a generation of Chinese with a missing link in their identity. While the older generation is still alive, there is still a chance of saving and reviving Chinese dialects. Good for these young ladies. May they succeed in their endeavour.

If you don't have a language of your ancestors, you can still benefit from learning another language. It will open up a whole new world to you! Find a package to fit your needs and learning style today!

Happy learning!

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