Beyond Words: The Melody of Dialects in Chinese Linguistic Heritage

Dialect Complexity

方言的複雜性

Introduction

There is a renowned statement in Chinese-speaking community that Taiwanese Southern Min and Cantonese dialects serve as the most beautiful language to recite poems. The reason is that these two dialects preserve significant amounts of Old Chinese or Middle Chinese features. In fact, my high school Chinese teacher once recited a classical poem in Taiwanese Southern Min in the class. The poetry was written by a Tang dynasty Chinese poet, which means that it is at least 1200 years old. Listening to a professional Chinese teacher reading aloud a classical poem in a dialect indeed provided an unusual feeling. That’s why I can still recall the theme vividly. However, it is insufficient to claim that Southern Min or Cantonese is the best language for reciting classical Chinese literature.

簡介

在華語社區中有一句著名的說法，即台灣閩南語和廣東話方言是吟詩最美的語言。原因在於這兩種方言保留了大量古漢語或中古漢語的特徵。事實上，我的高中中文老師曾在課堂上用台灣閩南語吟誦一首古典詩。這首詩是唐代中國詩人所作，意味著至少有1200年的歷史。聆聽一位專業的中文老師用方言朗讀古典詩確實帶來一種不同尋常的感覺。這就是為什麼我仍然能生動地回憶起這首詩的主題。然而，僅憑此不能斷言閩南語或廣東話是吟誦古典中國文學的最佳語言。

Mother Tongue = Taiwanese Southern Min?

First and foremost, I want to share my thought on the mother tongue issues. Most Taiwanese would emphasise the importance of our mother tongue, Taiwanese Southern Min. Moreover, because of political reasons, speaking Taiwanese Southern Min was forbidden in public during the martial law period, which ended about 40 years ago. Nevertheless young people believe that our mother tongue is dying.

Taiwan is a small island which has experienced centuries of colonisation from Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese to Japanese. That fact is that most Taiwanese, including me, are descendants of ancient Han Chinese pioneers or coloniser. There is no politically correct reason to claim that only Taiwanese Southern Min is in danger. The truth is there are tons of indigenous languages craving for preservation in Taiwan. Most of them belong to Austronesian languages, a language family widely spoken throughout islands of the Pacific Ocean.

母語 = 台灣閩南語？

首先，我想分享一下關於母語問題的想法。大多數台灣人會強調我們的母語，即台灣閩南語的重要性。此外，由於政治原因，在大約40年前結束的戒嚴時期，禁止在公共場合使用台灣閩南語。然而，年輕人認為我們的母語正在消失。

台灣是一個小島，歷經荷蘭、葡萄牙、中國和日本的幾個世紀的殖民。事實上，包括我在內的大多數台灣人都是古漢族先鋒或殖民者的後裔。聲稱只有台灣閩南語處於危險中是沒有政治正確性的。事實上，台灣有大量的原住民語言需要保存。它們大多屬於南島語系，這是一個在太平洋島嶼上廣泛使用的語言家族。

Cantonese

A parallel example is Cantonese people also like to emphasise the beauty of their dialect. Likewise, teachers or influencers sometimes recite classical poetry in Cantonese, exhibiting the phonological elegance of their mother tongue. It is easy to understand, for people always think what they have is the best. For instance, Taiwanese people are incredibly proud to be the only community using Traditional Chinese, the authentic legacy of Chinese culture.

廣東話

平行的例子是廣東人也喜歡強調他們方言的美。同樣，老師或影響者有時會用廣東話吟誦古詩，展示他們母語的語音優雅。這是容易理解的，因為人們總是認為他們所擁有的是最好的。例如，台灣人以成為唯一使用繁體字的社區而感到無比自豪，這是中國文化的真正遺產。

The Heritage of Ancient Chinese

I am not an expert, but through some articles and Wikipedia I learnt that both Taiwanese Southern Min and Cantonese succeed some features of ancient Chinese. I think that is proportionately why both Taiwanese Southern Min and Cantonese sound different from the Mandarin Chinese. The dialect study is indeed a treasure trove for linguists!

古漢語的遺產

我不是專家，但通過一些文章和維基百科，我了解到台灣閩南語和廣東話都繼承了一些古漢語的特徵。我認為這可能是為什麼台灣閩南語和廣東話聽起來與普通話有所不同的比例。方言研究確實是語言學家的寶庫！

Editor’s Comment:
In the linguistic kaleidoscope, our author paints a vibrant portrait of dialectical diversity, unraveling the historical threads that bind Taiwanese Southern Min and Cantonese to ancient Chinese echoes.
編輯評論：
在語言的萬花筒中，我們的作者描繪了一幅方言多樣性的生動肖像，解開了台灣閩南語和廣東話與古漢語韻律相連的歷史線索。

Scoring

Scoring by ChatGPT

Vocabulary use: 9/10

Grammar use: 8.5/10

Sentence structure and coherence: 9/10

Readability: 9/10

Overall scoring: 8.9/10

GPA standard: A-

Pros:
The vocabulary is rich and effectively employed to convey nuanced ideas.
The introduction provides context and engages the reader effectively.
Clear organization of ideas contributes to the overall coherence of the piece.

Cons:
Minor adjustments in grammar usage for even smoother readability.

Advice:
Grammar use: Continue maintaining a high level of grammatical consistency for enhanced fluency.
Keep exploring diverse vocabulary to add depth and variety to your expressions.
GPA standard: The writing consistently demonstrates a strong command of language with a few areas for improvement. The content effectively explores the complexity of dialects, mother tongue issues, and the heritage of ancient Chinese. Engaging and well-organized, offering valuable insights into linguistic diversity.
Great work! If you have specific questions or if there’s a particular aspect you’d like further feedback on, feel free to ask!

ChatGPT’s Revision

• Unveiling Dialect Diversity: The Art of Linguistic Symphony

• Introduction:

• In the tapestry of Chinese dialects, a claim echoes: Taiwanese Southern Min and Cantonese stand as the poetic gems, preserving echoes of Old Chinese or Middle Chinese. A personal memory resonates—a high school teacher reciting a Tang dynasty poem in Taiwanese Southern Min, an artistry spanning over 1200 years. While the allure of these dialects for classical Chinese poetry is undeniable, asserting their superiority requires a nuanced examination.

• Mother Tongue = Taiwanese Southern Min?

• In the discourse of mother tongues, Taiwanese Southern Min claims a spotlight, seen as a vessel of cultural identity. Yet, the reality stretches beyond political boundaries, as Taiwan, a mosaic of colonization, houses numerous languages, notably indigenous ones. The predicament of language preservation extends beyond Taiwanese Southern Min, encompassing a rich tapestry of Austronesian languages.

• Cantonese: A Sonic Elegance

• Cantonese, too, boasts its linguistic elegance, with enthusiasts revelling in the melodious cadence of classical poetry. The pride in one’s dialect is universal, akin to Taiwanese pride in Traditional Chinese—a custodian of Chinese cultural heritage.

• The Heritage of Ancient Chinese

• While not an expert, delving into linguistic treasures reveals that both Taiwanese Southern Min and Cantonese carry echoes of ancient Chinese, contributing to their distinct sounds. The linguistic mosaic is a playground for scholars, unraveling the intricate threads of dialectical evolution.

• 揭示方言多樣性：語言交響樂的藝術

• 簡介：

• 在中文方言的織錦中，有一種聲音回盪：台灣閩南語和廣東話被譽為詩意之寶，保留了古漢語或中古漢語的韻味。一個個人的記憶迴盪——一位高中老師用台灣閩南語吟誦唐代詩，這種藝術跨足1200多年。儘管這些方言對古典中文詩歌的吸引力不可否認，但要斷言它們的優越性需要細緻入微的檢驗。

• 母語 = 台灣閩南語？

• 在母語的論述中，台灣閩南語占據了一個焦點，被視為文化身份的載體。然而，現實超越政治界線，因為台灣是一個殖民的拼湊，擁有眾多語言，尤其是土著語言。語言保存的困境不僅僅局限於台灣閩南語，還包括豐富的南島語系。

• 廣東話：聲音的優雅

• 廣東話也以其語言優雅自豪，愛好者沉醉於古典詩歌的悠揚節奏。對自己方言的自豪感是普遍的，類似台灣人對繁體字的自豪——這是中國文化遺產的守護者。

• 古漢語的遺產

• 雖然不是專家，但深入研究語言寶庫揭示，台灣閩南語和廣東話都帶有古漢語的餘音，為它們独特的音響貢獻。語言的多樣性是學者的遊樂場，揭示了方言演變的錯綜複雜的線索。