Culture first, language second

[teoh@cs.utk.edu]

>From Greg.Zeng@hotlinebbs.com.au Fri Dec  6 22:35:30 1996
Subject: Culture first, language second

[moderator:Chhiang ki yit-fun to fhakka@asiawind.com  Tou chhia !]

> >From Richard_Choo-A10803@email.mot.com Thu Nov 28 04:04:35 1996
> From: "Richard Choo-A10803" <Richard_Choo-A10803@email.mot.com>

>      I agree that identification with any culture transcends language. Just
>      because one does not speak the language does not make one less
>      identifiable to that culture. Customs, traditions, literature &
>      history (which can be translated), cuisine, etc., form important
>      facets of culture as well.

> >From sllee@infinet.com Fri Nov 22 13:16:26 1996
> KonLiong,
> 
> Absolutely true if we can speak and read and write the language, we would
> be able to understand the culture much better. But remember there are

I'm thinking of devising a course: "How to be Chinese".  My Hongkong
inlaws think that eating the main meal of the day close to midnight, and
bedtime at midnight is the Chinese way of doing things.

They think that Hakka is a primitive form of Cantonese, that everyone
who is not Cantonese is stupid, inferior and to not be considered
worthwhile, etc.  We non-Cantonese need to better understand "How to be
Chinese" to try to not be diminished by the majority languages around
us.

> also many Hakkas who cannot speak Hakka any more because of many reasons.
> (Political suppression in some countries was a big reason). If they claim
> themselves as Hakka and identify with Hakka culture, they should be
> treated as Hakka. On the other hand, there are also Hakka who speak
> fluent Hakka but do not identify with the ancestry and history of Hakka.
> I would say they are less Hakka than the first type. That is my point.

Academically, we need a clearer definition of what is Hakka.  At the
moment I'm looking at structural anthropology and social psychology for
the definitions.  It's something to do with what the Cantonese academics
call: "value systems", and the most western theorists now call "memes".

As I search around (my families, librarie. Internet, my direct
experiences & memories), I beome upset at the lack of intelligent life
around me.  Is thre anyone else with my kind of interests, to the depth
that I now understand it?