Home » [China Watch]The expansion of Mandarin in Beijing triggers anxiety in the South | Cantonese | Hong Kong and Macau |

[China Watch]The expansion of Mandarin in Beijing triggers anxiety in the South | Cantonese | Hong Kong and Macau |

by admin

[Epoch Times December 07, 2021](Reported by Epoch Times reporters Ning Haizhong and Yi Ru) A Mandarin expansion campaign is continuing across China. The newly issued document by Beijing names Hong Kong and Macau regions where Cantonese is spoken. A radio station in Guangxi will stop broadcasting Cantonese programs, and some hosts have publicly expressed dissatisfaction.

A document entitled “Opinions on Comprehensively Strengthening Language and Writing Work in the New Era” (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”) was issued by the General Office of the State Council of the Communist Party of China on November 30. The “Opinions” require that by 2025, the national penetration rate of Putonghua will reach 85%. By 2035, the penetration rate of Putonghua in ethnic areas and rural areas must be “remarkably increased.”

The “Opinions” specifically mentioned supporting and serving Hong Kong and Macau to carry out Putonghua education, cooperating to carry out Putonghua proficiency testing, and improving the level of Putonghua application in Hong Kong and Macau.

Why has Hong Kong become the focus of the Mandarin expansion movement?

Chen Yongmiao, a mainland constitutional scholar, told The Epoch Times on December 4 that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) now promotes Mandarin and may be more concerned about Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong.

Chen Yongmiao believes that the official starting point may have changed. “The promotion of Putonghua at this stage is different from the previous promotion. In the past, the promotion was really for communication with countries and people across the country. Now after decades of development, more It is a symbolic meaning. It is a signal to strengthen the unification of the central government in places with strong localism protection such as Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.”

Xi Haiming, Chairman of the People’s Party of Inner Mongolia and Chairman of the Great Huraltai (Parliament) of Southern Mongolia, said that the suppression of Cantonese by the CCP has something to do with the protest movement in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong broke out in June 2019 against the totalitarian movement of the Chinese Communist Party. After that, the National Security Law will be implemented in 2020, and the Chinese Communist Party will then make arrangements to promote Mandarin and simplified characters throughout the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau regions.

On June 2 this year, the Ministry of Education of the Communist Party of China released the annual “Report on the Development of Chinese Language and Writing Business” at a press conference. Among them, the “Report on the Linguistic Life in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (2021)” was released for the first time. The report recommended that Hong Kong Speaking Mandarin is included in the evaluation system, and the legal status of simplified characters is determined.

Xi Haiming said, “China used barbarous methods to suppress Hong Kong people” and then wanted to cut its cultural roots. “It wanted to eliminate the Hong Kong people’s culture of maintaining their own identity and having their own characteristics.”

Insider: Cantonese once regarded Hong Kong as the capital

Ms. Lu Qiao, a guest commentator and current affairs commentator on Voice of Hope Cantonese Channel, told The Epoch Times on the 4th that Hong Kong’s Cantonese culture has had a huge impact on the Mainland and Guangdong. What happened in Hong Kong in the past two or three years has made the CCP very scared. It is worried that Guangdong and Guangxi will be affected.

“A lot of Cantonese in mainland China, they regard Hong Kong as the capital. This is what a friend from the mainland told me personally,” Luqiao said. “He said that at that time they listened to Cantonese songs and watched Cantonese movies. They were very Fascinated by Hong Kong’s culture.”

Lu Qiao said that before the conflicts between China and Hong Kong, many cultures of Guangdong, Guangdong and Hong Kong were integrated. In fact, the so-called conflicts between China and Hong Kong were created by the CCP. Compete for the resources of Hong Kong people. For example, grab milk powder, grab medical care, and get a place in the hospital.”

See also  Xi refused to visit Xi?China and the United States do not recognize expert analysis | Xixi Meeting | United States | CCP

She said that the CCP wants to completely change Hong Kong, starting with the language, and the Hong Kong culture behind Cantonese is not only the traditional Chinese culture, but also has many Western values. Judging from the nature of the Communist Party, anything that is diverse is terrible to it.

Luqiao specifically mentioned that recently many commentators from Hong Kong have traveled to the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and the United States. They have also become a new force. They all speak Cantonese and are all anti-communist. “I believe that for Hong Kong, these combined forces will have an effect of stabilizing the hearts of Hong Kong people.”

Hong Kong Education Bureau: There is no conflict between learning Putonghua and inheriting Cantonese culture

In response to the “Opinions” document issued by the General Office of the State Council of the Communist Party of China, the Epoch Times reporter called the Hong Kong Education Bureau on December 6 to seek comment on how the bureau will promote Mandarin and how to avoid the impact of Cantonese.

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Education Bureau responded to The Epoch Times on the 7th, stating that Hong Kong’s language education policy is to enhance students’ “biliterate and trilingual” skills, including the ability to communicate in Putonghua.

The “biliterate and trilingual” referred to is the language policy promoted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government after its establishment in 1997. The two languages ​​are Chinese and English, and the three languages ​​are Cantonese, English and Mandarin.

Regarding the promotion of Putonghua, the Education Bureau plans to encourage schools to organize diversified Putonghua activities, continue to co-organize Putonghua student activities with schools, academic organizations and social groups, as well as some Mainland exchange programs or activities.

However, the Education Bureau believes that there is no conflict between learning Mandarin and inheriting Cantonese culture.

Hong Kong media person: Protecting minor languages ​​and dialects is the mainstream civilization in the world

Former “Open” magazine editor and senior Hong Kong media person Cai Yongmei told The Epoch Times on December 6 that the United Nations has a spirit of universal values ​​called multiculturalism, which involves the protection of languages, especially the language rights of minorities. Including the inability to use major languages ​​to oppress minor languages, as well as the right to speak the mother tongue.

Cai Yongmei believes that there are more than 100 million people who speak Cantonese in the world, mainly in Guangdong and Guangxi (Guangdong and Guangxi), as well as a large number of overseas people who speak Cantonese. The millions of people in Hong Kong are a relatively small group of Cantonese speakers.

She believes that the government should protect multiple languages, “because you eliminate one language, you eliminate one culture.”

Cai Yongmei said that when formulating policies, it is necessary to emphasize the protection of language, which is the mainstream of the world. “You see, many policies in Taiwan now protect ethnic minorities. Some very small ethnic groups are tribes. Every language must be protected.”

“Like Switzerland, there are four official languages. The International PEN has a committee called the Language Rights Committee, which meets to discuss some protection regulations. Switzerland participates in four languages. They encourage these minor languages ​​to protect their own culture.”

She said that there are many different ethnic groups in mainland China, with completely different language systems, and we must protect them. Encourage them to speak their mother tongue, not eliminate them. Some time ago, Inner Mongolia wanted to cancel Mongolian language schools, and the locals were very angry, just to protect their cultural heritage.

See also  Shenzhen's second-hand housing transaction fell for three consecutive months, the transaction fell 76% in June

“You can imagine that if Chinese people don’t (let) speak Chinese, but (can only) speak English, thinking that English is aimed at the whole world, then we will be very angry. Because our Chinese has a history of thousands of years, If it disappears, we have to read the translated Tang Poems and Song Ci in English. So I think we should compare our hearts with our hearts and think in another place.”

Cai Yongmei said that the languages ​​of many ethnic minorities in China have already disappeared, and many young people do not even speak their own languages.

She said: “I heard that all kindergartens in mainland China already speak Mandarin, that is, children cannot speak what their parents say. This is a practice that goes against the mainstream civilization of the world.”

“Nowadays, few Chinese people think about this issue from this perspective, and even some friends say that English is only spoken all over the world. I think it is very absurd.” Cai Yongmei said.

The Cantonese Channel was suspended by the host of Guangxi Radio

Just after Beijing officially released documents on strengthening language work, a short video was circulated by mainland netizens. In the video, a host of Guangxi Yulin Radio said that the only Cantonese program of Yulin Radio will soon be discontinued, and the original Cantonese program host will also switch to Mandarin.

A host of Guangxi Yulin Radio said: “Is it really so difficult to leave a piece of sky for Cantonese? No matter what, I support Cantonese!” (Video screenshot)

The host said: “Seriously, I am very sad…. In any case, I really can’t accept it. How to say that our southeast Guangxi is a Cantonese-dominated area, leaving a piece of sky for Cantonese, is it really possible? Is it so difficult? No matter what, I support Cantonese!” (Please click to watch the videoHere

Guangdong Yangcheng.com published an interview with Yan Bing, a senior Cantonese host of Guangxi Yulin Radio and Television Station, on December 4, confirming the incident.

According to the report, the Cantonese of the major TV stations in Guangxi’s vernacular area has gradually changed from an “absolute protagonist” to a difficult survival: Nanning Radio and Guigang Station no longer have dedicated Cantonese programs; Beihai Radio each retains a Cantonese program ; Qinzhou Radio and Fangchenggang Radio both have only one Cantonese program; Yulin Radio currently has only one Cantonese program, and it will also face cancellation on New Year’s Day in 2022.

Reports show that it is mainly education and the entire employment system that promote Putonghua, which reduces the Cantonese space. There is no successor to Cantonese program hosts, and the society is also affected by speaking Putonghua.

“If you are a local in Yulin, generally only people over 45 can speak vernacular with you. If you are young people, especially elementary school students, most of them can only speak Mandarin.” The report said.

The Epoch Times reporter was unable to contact Yan Bing for further information.

Public information shows that in ancient Guangdong and Guangxi were originally one, belonged to Lingnan, and were in the same Pearl River system. There is little difference in customs, language and culture between the two places. At present, there are about 20 million Cantonese-speaking people in Guangxi, covering more than 30 counties and cities, most of which are in the southeast of Guangxi.

People from Mainland China: The problem is that non-governmental radio stations are not allowed

In response to the voice of the host of Guangxi Yulin Radio Station, the mainland constitutional scholar Chen Yongmiao said that the main problem with the promotion of Mandarin is that the government is in the hands of propaganda agencies and schools.

“It does not allow non-government radio stations, and media propaganda agencies are in the hands of the system,” he said. “In fact, how do you allow non-government radio stations to serve local needs in Cantonese? I think it is fine. The focus of the question is Now all propaganda agencies are owned by the party. If Mandarin is to be promoted, it will naturally cause the local language to shrink.”

See also  The Amazigh World Assembly condemns the Algerian military regime's demand to dissolve the Supreme Council of the Amazighs of Libya

“If it’s diversified, it’s okay. Government agencies promote Mandarin, and the private sector also has its schools, as well as its radio and television stations. It has its own living space. Now the living space is in the hands of the party and the government. , It gives you nothing, nothing else, the main contradiction is here.”

Guo Jianhe, a citizen of Guangzhou, told The Epoch Times that learning multiple languages ​​is not a problem. It is just like speaking English when communicating with the whole world. It is okay to learn Mandarin throughout the country, but local dialects must be spoken.

“Just like the Chaoshan dialect, it is not promoted (officially) but it is impossible not to be taught, but it may not be universal.” “It depends on the culture. We children learn everything, the school does not teach, and the locals can learn from each other.”

However, Guo Jianhe emphasized that if someone disagrees, they must speak up.

Analysis: CCP’s plan to cut off children and grandchildren

As early as 2010, Guangzhou, Guangdong, broke out to support Cantonese. On July 25 of that year, thousands of netizens gathered near the Jiangnanxi subway station in Guangzhou to “support Cantonese.” On August 1, hundreds of Guangzhou residents gathered spontaneously but were stopped by the police. Clashes broke out at the scene, which was later classified as an illegal gathering by the authorities. In Hong Kong, on August 1, more than 200 Hong Kong citizens marched in support of Guangzhou to support Cantonese.

Anti-Chinese teaching demonstrations also broke out in Inner Mongolia in 2020. These civil protest movements all took place in the context of the Chinese Communist government’s promotion of the popularization of Mandarin, but they were all suppressed. The CCP is still promoting the popularization of Putonghua on a large scale throughout the country.

The aforementioned “Opinions” document issued by the General Office of the State Council of the Communist Party of China involved the promotion of Putonghua in ethnic minority areas, requiring the implementation of three-subject teaching materials and full coverage in elementary and middle schools in ethnic areas, and the in-depth promotion of “national common language” teaching.

Xi Haiming, chairman of the Inner Mongolia People’s Party, told The Epoch Times that the CCP authorities acted both softly and hardly to protect the mother tongue of Mongolians last year, and the Minister of Public Security directed the suppression. In the end, it was pressed down from the surface, but the dissatisfaction was still there.”

Xi Haiming said that the CCP’s current encirclement and suppression of Cantonese is also a cultural genocide.

“The cultures in the world are diverse. It was the period when Chinese culture was most developed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period. A hundred schools of thought contended. However, the current Communist Party culture is anti-world, anti-civilization, and anti-human. It is a very brutal and brutal bandit style. No modern civilization can describe them.”

Xi Haiming said that after the Communist Party ruled China, it carried out land reform to wipe out the entire gentry class. Then strengthened brainwashing, and after the Cultural Revolution, the Communist Party achieved its goal. The current way to eliminate Cantonese is to gradually replace Cantonese with Putonghua and replace traditional Chinese with simplified characters.

“Simplified Chinese is a culture of castration, not the original rich and colorful Chinese culture.” He said that the CCP wants to serve his political unification through cultural unification and make China a backwater.

As for the CCP’s grabbing from children, Xi Haiming said, “It is a plan to cut off children and grandchildren from the roots of culture.”

Editor in charge: Li Qiong#

.

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy