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Over half of Chinese speak Mandarin 僅逾半數中國人說普通話
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007,Page 14
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Migrant school children in Beijing prepare for figure skater Michelle Kwan's visit, Jan. 18, 2007.
今年1月18日，北京移民學校的孩童準備迎接花式溜冰選手關穎珊來訪。(照片：法新社)
PHOTO: AFP
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In Taiwan, children are taught how to speak Mandarin from day one of school. The policy has been successful, and almost everyone in Taiwan can speak the national language.
Not so in China, says the Chinese Ministry of Education. Just over half of the 500,000 people surveyed said they could speak Mandarin.
Overall, 53 percent of people can speak Mandarin in China. In cities, 66 percent of people could speak compared to 45 percent of people in rural areas.
Mandarin is called putonghua, or common language, in China and the constitution says the government will promote its use, but that minorities have the right to use and develop their own languages.
More younger people understand Mandarin, with about 70 percent of those between the ages of 15 and 29 speaking it, while 31 percent of those between the ages of 60 and 69 said they can speak Mandarin. (Jason Cox, Staff Writer with AP)
在台灣，孩童上學的第一天就學國語。這個政策一直很成功，幾乎人人都會說這種官方語言。
中國教育部指出，在中國可不是如此。受訪的五十萬位民眾中，只逾一半會說普通話。
總計有53%的中國民眾會說普通話。城市說普通話的人佔66%，相較之下，在鄉村只佔45%。
國語在中國稱為普通話。憲法明定政府應推廣使用，但少數族群仍有權使用並發展自己的語言。
中國年輕人比較懂得普通話，十五到二十九歲的民眾約有70%會說普通話，而六十至六十九歲的人則佔31%。 （翻譯︰賴美君）
| Today's Words 今天單字 |
1. Mandarin n.
國語 (guo2 yu3)，普通話 (pu3 tong1 hua4)
例: The main languages in Taiwan are Mandarin, Southern Min and Hakka.
(台灣主要的語言是國語、閩南話與客家話。)
2. ministry n.
(政府)部 (bu4)
例: The Ministry of Education is hosting an art show next week.
(教育部下週將主辦一項藝術展。)
3. promote v.t.
推廣 (tui1 guang3)
例: That band is playing at a concert to promote AIDS awareness.
(那個樂團在演唱會中表演，推廣民眾對愛滋病的認識。) |
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