Reflection

I have confirmed that China has many diverse languages. While I was in China, it was very hard to communicate. this confirms my languages belief. this research make me wonder if other countries have such diverse languages as China does.

Recommendations

My recommendations for this research project would be to not have a question/research goal that has to do with reactions because chances are that you will just have to cut it out. It is hard to find a lot of information on languages diversity in China. Try to have a research goal/ question about the county that you are living in. I'm guessing that there is probably more information online, but the sites are probably in Chinese.

Conclusions

In China most people's native language isn't mandarin (only in Beijing), students learn it in middle school. Because there are so many minorities (56), there are many different languages. the minority languages are pretty different from each other. China is an extremely diverse country.

Interpretation of Data

My data shows that there is much language diversity in China. Many of the people speak multiple languages so that they can communicate. Different languages are spoken in different regions.

Data

99% of the Chinese people speak Mandarin. When the Chinese choose to speak their native language they mainly do it at home and when they're with their friends. When in public and at work people speak Mandarin. The native languages are fairly different from each other, but people can guess what others are trying to say. For example When talking about a giraffe people might describe it as a long necked deer, and the other people can guess that they are talking about a giraffe. People learn Mandarin in Middle School (our Middle School and our High School). In each of the 22 provinces of China there are groups within Minorities that speak different languages, they also speak the majority language.

Primary Research

My subjects will be my tour guides. To get my information I will ask the guides when a good time comes up.

Questions:

• When do Chinese people speak Mandarin?
• When do Chinese people speak there native language?
• What percent of people speak Mandarin?
• Where do Chinese people learn Mandarin?
• Are the native languages similar?
• Where are different languages spoken?
  

Sorces

"Spoken Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, etc)." Omniglot - a guide to the languages, alphabets, syllabaries and other writing systems of the world. 24 Oct. 2008 http://www.omniglot.com/writing/chinese_spoken.htm.

Huu, John. Personal Interview. 11 Oct. 2008.

?, Judy. Personal Interview. 16 Oct. 2008.

Miller, Hannah. Personal Interview. 22 Oct. 2008.

?, Mandy. Personal Interview. 20 Oct. 2008.

Secondary Reseach

My article listed some of the languages spoken in China. The article also said where that language was spoken and how many people spoke it.

My Research Plan

To answer my questions I will ask my tour guides, ask Hannah, and look at websites that list some of the different languages in China. Hopefully I can get answers from those.

My Research Questions

Research Questions:

• When do Chinese people speak Mandarin?
• When do Chinese people speak there native language?
• What percent of people speak Mandarin?
• Where do Chinese people learn Mandarin?
• Are the native languages similar?
• Where are different languages spoken?

My Research Goal

My research goal is to know more about language diversity in China and how people react to the different varieties. I want to know about this because I am going to China tomorrow. I think it will be interesting to hear the different language varieties and see how the people who speak them are different from other people.


10/28/08
Correction! I could not ever get reactions, so I am taking that part of my research question out.

My Language Beliefs

I believe that when you are in a different country, it's hard to communicate. People don't understand you and it's hard to get around when you are in a different country. sometimes there are different words for the same thing in the same language. I got this language belief from
Ms. Lewis. She went to South Africa, where they spoke English but had different words. People would ask her to get something and she wouldn't know what is was and they would act like she was stupid for not knowing what it was. Ms. Thornton had to learn the languages at her school, her home, her job, college, and so many more places. It was hard for her. There are so many variations to the same language and it's impossible to learn them all.