LL-L "Language use" 2005.10.02 (02) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 02.OCT.2005 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Thomas Byro <greenherring at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2005.10.01 (02) [E]

To : All

I don't know what category this would go under but I waned to relate an 
amusing incident involving my younger son that illustrates the usefullness 
of speaking multiple languages.  My son has begun dating a nice Chinese girl 
whom he met about 3 weeks ago.  When they were introduced, he began speaking 
to her in Mandarin (which he learned in High School).  He said that she did 
a double take like he had never seen before.  Unfortunately, she only speaks 
Cantonese but the experience served to break the ice.  I guess even here in 
Manhattan it is unusual for a Chinese girl to meet a young white man who 
speaks Mandarin.

Tom Byro

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language use

Hi, Jonny!

In my experience, many Chinese assume that a "White" person that knows 
Chinese is (1) not anti-Chinese and/or racist and (2) is to some degree at 
least proficient in or accepting of Chinese culture and social structure 
(especially kinship power distribution), thus has marriage potential.

This is not necessarily to say that the same Chinese people are not racist, 
as I have witnessed by local reception of Chinese-speaking "Black" and 
Middle Eastern foreigners in China.  My impression is that they consider 
"White culture" to be close to "Chinese culture" in hierarchical terms, 
"evidenced" by "White" political and technological world domination, and a 
common assumption in Asia is that Westerners are rich.

Also, as I had to find out, "white" men in Taiwan (and these days to a 
degree also on the Mainland) are often targeted as potential marriage 
material, somethimes simply as tickets out of the country.  In most cases 
they are targets of go-betweens' matchmaking attempts.  Unless this is what 
you want, this can get you into truly embarrassing situations until you 
learn to spot the early signs of it, especially flags like "I'll introduce 
you to someone you're bound to like" and being invited to homes and finding 
yourself "coincidentally" alone with a daughter of the house.

Having said this, I need to add that five guys I know (two Americans, one 
Englishman and two Germans) have ended up in long-lasting and apparently 
happy marriages this way, even though two of them had stumbled into it like 
babes in the woods.  This also applies in the case of an Australian woman I 
know.

But, yes, even a little bit of profiency in a language can open doors, at 
the very least being taken as a sign of respect.  I would go as far as 
saying that this applies worldwide, unless there are major barriers such as 
rejection on the basis of "race," nationality or religion.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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