āSpeaking Mandarin with an accent was looked down uponā - but youāre talking about dialects here, not accents, yes? In Shanghai, the dialectās quietly been making a little comeback for more than a decadeābus announcements, even teaching in some kindergartens.
Not many dialects in China carry the cultural cachet, or the distinguished self-righteousness, that Shanghainese does, Iād say. This is why some young Shanghaiers feel uncomfortable speaking it, because itās seen as othering newcomers.
If weāre just speaking of Shanghai, I donāt think the dialect is making so much a comeback, but rather, means like the bus announcements are used to painstakingly maintain cultural roots while the momentum is surely heading the opposite direction.
Than you for pointing it out though, I shouldāve categorized the dialects better based on different perceptions!
Youāre right: the momentum isnāt favoring Shanghainese, but itās interesting that these small concessions are being madeālike teaching it to kindergartnersāeven as so much seems to be getting ever more homogenized.
Interesting, too, your observation of some young Shanghainese feeling uncomfortable speaking the dialect for fear of othering - my experience has been non-Shanghainese learning the dialect to fit in. But thatās probably more true of those from nearby provinces who speak the Wu dialect!
āSpeaking Mandarin with an accent was looked down uponā - but youāre talking about dialects here, not accents, yes? In Shanghai, the dialectās quietly been making a little comeback for more than a decadeābus announcements, even teaching in some kindergartens.
Not many dialects in China carry the cultural cachet, or the distinguished self-righteousness, that Shanghainese does, Iād say. This is why some young Shanghaiers feel uncomfortable speaking it, because itās seen as othering newcomers.
If weāre just speaking of Shanghai, I donāt think the dialect is making so much a comeback, but rather, means like the bus announcements are used to painstakingly maintain cultural roots while the momentum is surely heading the opposite direction.
Than you for pointing it out though, I shouldāve categorized the dialects better based on different perceptions!
Youāre right: the momentum isnāt favoring Shanghainese, but itās interesting that these small concessions are being madeālike teaching it to kindergartnersāeven as so much seems to be getting ever more homogenized.
Interesting, too, your observation of some young Shanghainese feeling uncomfortable speaking the dialect for fear of othering - my experience has been non-Shanghainese learning the dialect to fit in. But thatās probably more true of those from nearby provinces who speak the Wu dialect!