Cantonese speakers shout out for dialect
Source: Xinhua |
August 2, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HUNDREDS of people in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou rallied yesterday, calling on authorities to preserve their local dialect, Cantonese.
It was the second such demonstration held by Guangzhou citizens, mostly young people, since last weekend after a local political advisory body proposed early last month that Guangzhou TV broadcast more of its news programs in Mandarin or launch a new Mandarin channel.
Citizens in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, expressed fears that their dialect would be abolished in the promoting of Mandarin.
Yesterday's rally took place in People's Park, just outside the municipal government's compound, and police officers were deployed to maintain order.
Attract viewers
The rally began at about 2pm and lasted some two and a half hours.
TV stations in China are required to broadcast in Mandarin.
However, since Guangdong is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau, where Cantonese is widely used, Guangzhou TV was approved by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in the 1980s to use Cantonese in order to attract viewers from the two regions.
China has eight major dialects, but the number may vary due to different classifications.
It is usually difficult for those speaking one dialect to understand another.
The Guangzhou government has said that local authorities would not abolish use of the Cantonese dialect.
It was the second such demonstration held by Guangzhou citizens, mostly young people, since last weekend after a local political advisory body proposed early last month that Guangzhou TV broadcast more of its news programs in Mandarin or launch a new Mandarin channel.
Citizens in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, expressed fears that their dialect would be abolished in the promoting of Mandarin.
Yesterday's rally took place in People's Park, just outside the municipal government's compound, and police officers were deployed to maintain order.
Attract viewers
The rally began at about 2pm and lasted some two and a half hours.
TV stations in China are required to broadcast in Mandarin.
However, since Guangdong is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau, where Cantonese is widely used, Guangzhou TV was approved by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in the 1980s to use Cantonese in order to attract viewers from the two regions.
China has eight major dialects, but the number may vary due to different classifications.
It is usually difficult for those speaking one dialect to understand another.
The Guangzhou government has said that local authorities would not abolish use of the Cantonese dialect.
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