So I'm new to this discussion, but my understanding is that Cantonese is a widely spoken Southern Chinese language/dialect. It's different from other dialects spoken thoughout China, but is a common dialect people share in southern regions, though any one region generally has it's own dialect (true in the northern regions as well, from what I understand).

I grew up with a number of Asian Americans, and this is what I remember them telling me.

Oncelurked is correct. Cantonese is spoken in the southern parts of China and in Hong Kong (HK is a special adminitrative region, so while they're part of China, they also have their own government.) Jacky Chan, for example, primarily acts in Cantonese movies.

The offical language in China is Mandarin. It's a little more sophisticated and pretty-sounding than Cantonese IMHO. Taiwan is also Mandarin speaking. The proper Beijing accent is very clipped (again MHO) and the Taiwanese accent is softer.

Thanks. Now that prohibition of speaking Cantonese in public is even more confusing to me.

What's even harder about categorizng "Asians" is Koreans, Chinese, Japanese; all three in themselves are different in so many ways yet blanketed...some people don't even realize how much different Filipinos, Indonesians, Malaysians and the rest of SouthEast Asia....

I get offended when people don't acknowledge such differences or pretend it doesn't matter.

I witnessed a dialogue between a couple of white male college students and a Korean female college student. They were asking her if another Asian student was Korean, Chinese, or Japanese. She giggled, shrugged, and said "I don't know...I can't really tell the difference...oh well."

Is this common or is it possible that this young lady thought it was cute and cool to seemingly distance herself?

Maybe she honestly couldn't tell the difference. Can YOU tell the difference between African-Americans descended from slaves and Afro-Carribeans (and that is just in appearance, not accents)?

This is a loaded comparison that I wish you had not made.

African-Americans and Afro-Carribeans are BOTH descendents of slavery. Carribeans have Carribean accents (either strong or very slight) whereas African-Americans, who are born and raised in America, do not. Need I go on?

ETA: But, many of us purposely don't attempt to make the huge distinction between African-Americans and people of the African diaspora elsewhere.

Maybe this young lady did not REALLY know the difference. So, the assumed questions behind that assumption is "is that common" and/or "did she think it was cool and cute to seemingly distance herself?"

I'd think it's more common for those born here than those from abroad. Personally, I find it easier to distinguish between cultures in women than in men because there is more variety in dress. I can pick out Hong Kong born Chinese and Canadian born Chinese about 60-70% of the time. Same with Koreans (in my experience, Korean women tend to wear A LOT of make up).

Are you saying that all Asian groups look the same?

For people who have some "common" Haitian or Nigerian facial traits, for example, I can generally distinguish these individuals from African-Americans. This person could still be born in America, so the comparison to Asian groups is faulty, in my opinion.

I argue that there are more distinguishing visual traits between Asian groups than there are between African-Americans and our brothers and sistas elsewhere.

Gotcha.

LOL!

I was thinking more along the lines of distinctive facial features. Not markers such as make-up and style of dress.

I don't really know if it's all that easy. Maybe you just have the "vibe." I either ask or look at the person's last name.

I'm Chinese, but I've been mistaken for Vietnamese and Filipina many times. And 99% of the time, it's from members of Vietnamese and Filipino communities.

I can tell the difference between immigrants from different parts of Africa. There are distinct facial characteristics and well as body types. So I don't think it was an unfair question.

It's a bit easier to tell since multigeneration African Americans are very mixed.

It's harder when it comes to Asians because they're less mixed.

This is an awesome discussion topic!!!

Ok, on Cantonese...Cantonese has 9 tones. Tones are the way you say a word (ie, do you raise your pitch at the end of the word, lower it, in the middle lower it, etc)

Mandarin has 4 tones (5 if you count neutral tone). They both use the same writing system. Today, in China, they use a simplified writing system that was developed in the 20th century during the Republic of China Era and in the beginning of the People's Republic Era.

Taiwan (the relocated Republic of China Government) uses Traditional Chinese in writing. Additionally, there is also a Taiwanese dialect that is spoken as well. However, the government is trying to phase that out, which is causing a huge uproar.

Ok, on Asian Greeks...Asian Greeks do have specific philanthropies though, although mine does not have a specific one. As for incorporation, we are incorporated, but I'm not sure where..I'll have to ask my Nationals. :D

Going along with what SOPi Jawbreaker said...many AGLOs are regional. Some are expanding quickly(PDPsi, SYZ, KPL, aKDPhi, LPhiE, and maybe SOPi..not sure) while others are not(I can post info on this later if people want).

On Asian Groupings...Asian cultures do differ a lot from culture to culture. Grant it, a lot of the culture does have similarities, but that doesn't mean everyone gets along perfectly. For example, there is still animosity between the Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese in some shape or form usually (resulting from WWII and before...ie Rape of Nanking(1937) and Occupation of Korea(WWII). For me personally, I can tell different Asian groups apart to an extent. It takes a LOT of practice though. Unlike the African American population, which was mostly forced into coming to the US, a lot of the Asian Population is immigrant in nature, and therefore the distinct cultures are maintained much more than the cultural genocide that occurred during the Slavery period(and after) in American History.

Right now, you see communities of different Asian cultures in the US. For example, a strong Korean population in souther MD, or Chinatowns, Koreatowns, etc.

AGLOs right now are very diverse in that they encompass all sorts of Asian Cultures. My pledge brothers were: 1 Taiwanese; 1 South Indian(Tamil); 1 Korean; 1 1/4 Italian, 1/4 Polish, 1/2 Korean; and me(Scottish, French, English). So, you do see a lot of diversity in the Asian Greek community. The Growth of AGLOs is enormoues though(relatively). PDPsi is growing at the rate of about 2 chapters a year.

Oh, SOPi Jawbreaker...do you know Camilla? And are you coming to the party at Fur(in DC) on April 9th(it's PDPsi and SOPi)

Peace!
-Nate