UK readers?

[bobbyrock]

Yes yes yes, that's what I meant by saying they were adopted (separately, from different parts of the country).

Ah, I see. now it makes sense to me.

I always find it interesting that the uk is so diverse in such a small. Take Austrailia for example. You can fit most of mainland europe within it yet the accents and dialect hardly change from one side to the other. If you drive for two hours in the uk, it can almost feel like a different language.

I do love most asian cultures but I do have a soft spot for Japan. As i said before, the whole medieval feel seems very noble and I was swayed by "The last samarai". I love that film.

 

[bobbyrock]

Evening all

We are a couple from London.

Just thought we'd say hi.

Seeya

Syd_uk

Hi.

I've been rubbish at saying hello to people. That Marsipanne has been taking up all my time.

Whereabouts in the uk are you?

 

[Nemasis Enforcer]

Hi and welcome to Plasmacaster, Hiccup and syd_uk hope you all enjoy it here and post as much as you want its nice to meet you!!

Hope everone is well and yes Booby im fine thanks

 

[Marsipanne]

I've been awful at making greetings to, so I give a big welcome to all newbies here.

I loved The Last Samurai too. When the young samurai guy died (on the bridge), it made me cry. Along the same veins (but made some ten years earlier) is Once Upon a Time in China. It's my favourite. It's about the end of martial arts/kung fu. Equal laughs and tears in that, and amazing fight scenes. In fact, it got to 1# fight scene of all time on MTV.

China is the same as England. The dialects vary so wildly that sometimes the written word is the only way of communication between provinces. If my parents spoke in their dialects rather than the proper Chinese, I wouldn't understand them.

 

[Nemasis Enforcer]

I've been awful at making greetings to, so I give a big welcome to all newbies here.

Looks like im the one who has to make all the welcomes doesn't it

 

[bobbyrock]

When I wanted to learn a new language this year, I toyed with Chinese but realised that even though the chinese government introduced a official dialect, most people would never understand me. I've been learning Japanese from books but hopefully I should start my night class in October.

 

[bobbyrock]

Looks like im the one who has to make all the welcomes doesn't it

It's true. I'll have to start pulling my weight.

 

[Marsipanne]

Japanese is easier (I learnt it for a while), and it's possible for foreigners to speak it convincingly. Chinese has pronounciations that foreigners can't make, and English-speakers tend to speak Chinese in monotone, and that is truly non-understandable to the Chinese (Chinese is all about inflections and stress on certain syllables).

 

[bobbyrock]

Exactly. It looked far too hard for me. Japanese is relatively easy and I actually am really enjoying learning it. And no, before you ask. I am not learning it to attract Japanese women.

 

[Marsipanne]

Well, I was learning it so I could read Japanese manga and watch anime. Not so honourable as you of course. I'm sure that your interest in the language has nothing to do with the women there.

p.s. I PMd you, J.

 

[phar]

were they step-sisters? surely evolution takes longer than a 4 hour plane ride?

... thats a good one

crazy, i've just rented out the last samurai. I never watched it cause i thought it may be another crappy hollywood depicition of a culture that they would absolutely stereotype but it's been recommended to me by friends. Watching it tommorrow with my housemates.

I totally agree about britain being a melting pot of cultures, sometimes i feel like i'm back in india... lived there for awhile

Marsipanne
"The thing is, each group actually has a different culture, and some look different. It's because China had such a huge Empire before. I mean, it's still huge now, but it used to be bigger."
What period exactly are you referring to?? The only reason i ask. (and i am fully willing to accept a certain amount of ignorance to these matters in comparison to you as you are chinese..... although my family have been affected by chinese politics, will explain some other time) is because in the last few hundred years as far as i am aware, this is the largest china has ever been.

Hello plasmacaster and hello Booby, i don't think i've ever been introduced to you.... well i am pretty new here myself

Hello Hiccup, good to meet you, and good evening syd_uk

 

[Marsipanne]

Okay, I'm not too knowledgeable, but I do know that China used to be apple-shaped, whereas now it is chicken-shaped. A huge chunk was carved out from the top (Mongolia used to be part of China)

As to past 100 years business, I'm pretty sure that's true, but Chinese history goes a LONG way back and the recording of it is pretty detailed. China's always varied in size because it was such a militaristic country, but its empire has been bigger, I'm sure. Some Chinese conquerors got right into the middle of Europe.

 

[Plasmacaster]

I think that both china and japan share a great deal of similarities despite the deliberate isolation of the japanese world, I mean after all they're only a short distance from each other (relatively speaking). After all they were invaded by the mongols as well, its only inevitable that at least some of their beliefs would trickle down through the years. Although there are some vast cultural differences as well.
After all Japan is bases many of its fundemental beliefs on Bushido, an ancient warrior code. Its like the chivalric code of knights in europe in the middle ages only this has survived to today (mainly because of the whole Meiji revolution where guns were finally employed in more than simple arquebus squadrons) and as such their language is far more brash and harsh in comparison to the wonderfuly melodic chinese languages.
To be honest I would love to go to either japan or china but seeing as I can speak japanese I think it would be better for me to go there.

Besides, I have a thing for oriental women and I'd love the power trip of being the tallest person there

 

[PunkyMunky]

Evening all

We are a couple from London.

Just thought we'd say hi.

Seeya

Syd_uk

hi there fellow Londoners

 

[Marsipanne]

You speak Japanese, Plasmacaster? How cool, I wish I could. Then I could watch as much anime as I desired. Fortunately Chinese dubs are MUCH better (and less edited) than the English ones so I can still watch it in Chinese. I had a friend's little sister come round today (I was babysitting) and I dug out a really old anime I've got the first season of: The Magic Knights of Rayearth. It's like Sailor Moon-ish kind of stuff. I bought it in China when I was 12 or so, I think. But I bought Detective Conan at the same time and of course, Conan completely dominated my mind and Rayearth was totally forgotten. It's by CLAMP (of the CCS series)

 

[zukethecuke]

I always find it interesting that the uk is so diverse in such a small. Take Austrailia for example. You can fit most of mainland europe within it yet the accents and dialect hardly change from one side to the other. If you drive for two hours in the uk, it can almost feel like a different language.

I'm from the US, actually, but as a visitor I certainly notice accent shifts. I think pronunciation stays pretty similar in all the big cities in England, with the unaccustomed bits turning up in smaller towns. Mind you, there was a desk clerk at a B&B in Glasgow who got off two or three cheery sentences, the last of which must have been a question, and I didn't understand a single word. I just stood there dazed for several seconds hoping it would snap into focus, and finally had to shake it off and say "Hmm? Sorry? What?" and get him to repeat.

 

[Nemasis Enforcer]

Hi there everyone

Hope your all having a gread day so far

 

[Marsipanne]

China won 2 badminton medals!! Badminton is my favourite sport and now I'm all hyped out to go start playing. Thing is, I rely on tiring the other player out, because for some reason I can't smash well (I can't get it to go down with enough force), so I make the opponent run back and forth a la Agassi. I'm certainly going to try and master more shots, especially backhands. A pity Khorkina didn't get the gold in gymnastics, though Carly Patterson deserved to win, certainly.

eta: bobbyrock, I PMd you

 

[phar]

zukethecuke
know what you mean, had a scottish friend when i first came to england, could just about speak english and at the time was sure that he was speaking in a different language (before you ask, he was speaking english and not scottish), i kinda have a think for irish accents, is it just me or is it really sexy, humm

Plasmacaster
I'm not entirely sure which nation you were refering to but japan were never technically invaded by the monguls although two attempts were made. The first one never got underway as midway through the campaign the current Khan died and they packed up their bags and left. The second one was a failure as although there were a few skirmishes, the majority of the mongul fleet drowned in a storm.... its slightly more complicated than this but don't want to bore anyone and ZZZzzzzz

And therefore wouldn't attribute any similarities that the Chinese/ Japanese have to any Mongolian invasions.

Marsipanne
I think you might be reffering to the late 1200 when under Kublai Khan, the mongul empire controlled everything in asia (apart from Japan and northern russia).

If we go back to the 1100-1200, China then consisted of the Xi Xia state and the Ruzhen tribe of the Manchu people who had established the Jin dynasty. As anyone i could be incorrect but as i know it the only time china could claim to have controlled parts of europe or to indeed have a bigger empire than they now posses was when they were under the rule of Kublai Khan

ok i am aware of the the qin, han, sui, Tang and Song dynisty which basically covers china from 1500 BC to AD 1000 but they are mostly renowned for their study of confucius values which run contrary to any empire building agendas

ok... i've finished droning on, i understand if no one wants to speak to me anymore

 

[phar]

for some reason I can't smash well (I can't get it to go down with enough force)

Its all in the wrists, especially for the backhand, oh you mean.....

Badminton is my fav racquet sport, used to be in college teams and stuff. Trained with the British National team for table tennis as well when i was like 15... crazy

 

[Nemasis Enforcer]

i'll still talk to you Phar, lol

 

[Marsipanne]

Wow phar, you're really knowledgeable. I've got a book called 'Up and down 5000 Years' which is basically a lowdown on Chinese history. But it's in Chinese, and I'm a slow reader when it comes to Chinese, and I'm impatient. I'm hoping to borrow some more books on China in the library. All I know is what my parents have told me, really.

By the way, Marsipanne is a very happy person because she just found a site where you can download free manga!!

http://www.snoopycool.com/

Not sure how much is available, but I'm very excited!! I think there's another really good site, where I downloaded some ten volumes of Angel Sanctuary (angst into the billions--my old avatar was a character from there). I think it was omanga.net or something like that.

 

[phar]

Thanks Nem

I'm not really knowledgeable, just have a lot of free time. And i made up all those qin sui words....... just kidding
Will diffenetely check out the free manga site

Humm, wonder how many more posts i have to make before i lose virgin status. And how do you guys get to put crazy pictures next to your name?

 

[Marsipanne]

New avatar time! (and by the way, that manga site sucked; everything had been removed from archives because of legal reasons).

Anyway, my Motoko from Love Hina avatar is getting annoying, so I'm changing it to something from Mars. Can't decide what. I'll do Rei, most likely, or put in the EVIL freaky dude Masao. Here's a 'Rei' picture.

Yup, that's a boy.

 

[tintarron]

Timid, de-lurking newbie here - hello everyone! I'm actually from Leeds, but studying in Oxford at the moment.

- V.