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  • Essay / Tianjin dialect from my perspective - 1118

    Tianjin, known as one of the four cities directly administered by the central government of China, is emerging as a modern metropolis in the northern coastal area of ​​the China. However, the Tianjin dialect, being unique and unaffected by other neighboring dialects, is often considered a cultural thing. I will talk about my experiences as a Tianjiner. Additionally, several opinions and reviews are provided from my perspective. I was born in Tianjin and lived in Tianjin until I went to university in Shanghai. Although we learned standard Chinese (Mandarin) to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education during the 18 years of compulsory schooling, teachers still combined Tianjin dialect in classes to some extent. So it is natural for students to speak Mandarin with the Tianjin dialect. On the other hand, children are strongly influenced by their parents, who also speak the Tianjin dialect. In this case, well-educated people still more or less retain their Tianjin accent. As I recall, adults can even speak dialect in formal situations like wedding ceremonies or corporate meetings. This may seem strange to you, but sometimes using Tianjin dialect correctly can make others feel close and comfortable. My parents had a big influence on my language learning. They were both born and raised in Liaoning province but not in Tianjin (in rural Dalian and rural Yingkou, respectively). After graduating from local high schools, they went to Harbin to study at a university which also belongs to northeast China. Throughout their first 22 years, my parents spoke a very rural “东北话” (northeast dialect), according to my interviews. Until they were sent to work in Tianjin, there seemed to be a chance of becoming government officials. D...... middle of paper......maybe it is the regional identity caused by different cultures. Their own dialects then become two identification marks. Once there was a parade in Tianjin, and everyone involved, whether they were football fans or not, were shouting "国安傻逼", which means "Guoan players are assholes", which is really rude… And now, this saying is popular all over the country and becomes a famous joke of Tianjin dialect… Some sayings of Tianjin dialect are gradually disappearing because their usage is not frequent, however, the others are still developed to a state more modern than before. Knowing and speaking Tianjin dialects for so many years, I would feel quite warm and happy hearing it in an exotic country. Tianjin citizens' love for Tianjin dialect is irreplaceable and unique; The Tianjin dialect plays and will play a fairly important role in the representation of Tianjin culture.