Reply to S/O what''s the point of studying Mandarin?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Unlike the situation in Europe, Chinese businessmen and politicians are not likely to expect that a typical American caucasian, latino or AA would understand their language - which could be to huge advantage ;)[/quote]

Agree.  Even if the meeting is conducted in English, they may speak to each other in their native language, in which case, it is very advantageous that you understand their language.

I'm of a particular heritage, and can speak/understand passably.  But, I don't "look" like that ethnicity, so I've been told by people of that ethnicity.  There have been many times where people were speaking in that language about me, and I could understand every word.  Sometimes I'll respond to them in that language or in English, and the shock on their faces is priceless.[/quote]

I know of companies that do business with China, who in their talent recruitment efforts, deliberately pass over Mandarin speaking Asians in favor of non-Asian Mandarin speakers for that very reason of advantage.[/quote]

Yeah, that is a fun part of speaking Chinese as a white guy. On various trips - usually on bus and train rides - I have listened with interest as mainland Chinese passengers loudly discussed my choice in clothes, the maps and books I was reading, what country I was likely from, if I worked for the CIA or not and so forth. On a recent bus ride from HK airport to downtown the couple across from me debated what a white guy could possibly be doing on a public bus and concluded based on that and my comfortable travel shoes that I must be quite poor. It is always mainlanders who pull this shit and never Taiwanese. If HK people do it I wouldn't have a clue since I don't understand Cantonese.

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