22 replies to this topic

[Juchechosunmanse]

Don't mean to offend anyone, but I have to ask this question: How come many Cantonese people, especially those middle age and older folks, are so talkative and loud? Every time I see two Cantonese ajuma getting on the train together I frown. They often ruined my commute when I was desperate to catch some sleep on the train. I have noticed that other non-Cantonese Chinese people, Vietnamese etc. are not loud at all. Is it something so unique about the Cantonese people/language that make many of them (certainly not all) so talkative and loud?

Edited by General_Zhaoyun, 25 August 2009 - 10:42 PM.

[WangGeon]

Don't mean to offend anyone, but I have to ask this question: How come many Cantonese people, especially those middle age and older folks, are so talkative and loud? Every time I see two Cantonese ajuma getting on the train together I frown. They often ruined my commute when I was desperate to catch some sleep on the train. I have noticed that other non-Cantonese Chinese people, Vietnamese etc. are not loud at all. Is it something so unique about the Cantonese people/language that make many of them (certainly not all) so talkative and loud?

There was an interesting article recently about the Chinese government's attempt to "clean up" Guangzhou's notorious image of being dirty and inhospitable. Cantonese appear to have some reputation of being a boisterous (and somewhat rude) lot. Half of my relations are Cantonese, many of my neighbors are from Guangdong, and they do honestly seem a bit "loud." Compared to other Chinese dialects, Cantonese does seem somewhat harsher although its numerous tones allows for an interesting musical quality.

Edited by WangGeon, 25 August 2009 - 06:57 PM.

[General_Zhaoyun]

If you visit Chinese restaurants in China, you will more likely realize that most Chinese restaurants are usually boisterous and "noisy" with many Chinese people chatting and talking loudly. In fact, if Chinese restaurants were too quiet, it would seem to be quite 'strange' as it might mean "no business" or "business is too poor". This form of Chinese behavior can be seen as somewhat unsightly and rude in Western culture. Unfortunately, "speaking loudly" tends to a phenomenon in China's Culture. It will only change in the future with increasing development and improvement on social behavior.

Here are the cultural reasons why Chinese tend to speak loudly:

1. A big portion of Chinese were still engaged in agriculture and farming. On a farm land (or padi field), due to distance problem, the Chinese farmers often have to speak loudly to each other in order to be heard. This 'habits' had been passed on for thousands of years till today. This was unlike the West whereby most of the people were engaged in high profile service industry and were thus 'trained' to speak in more 'elegant, soft and friendly' way (as a show of service quality).

2. There is a considerable portion of Chinese (in China) who are engaged in manufacturing today. In fact, manufacturing took up almost 45% of the economy sector of China as China is industrializing rapidly. Because factories tend to be noisy (tinged with machine noises), the Chinese often had to speak loudly to one another in factories in order to be heard.

3. There is a huge population in China. In ancient times, a Chinese family tended to be quite large. When many family members gathered together, the elderlies or family members often had to raise their voices in order so that all family members could hear one another. Even in many Chinese villages, there was a lack in the use of loud-speakers, many Chinese resorted to shouting in order to pass on messages. Also, in a Chinese school, the number of students in a class tends to be very large. What this means was that the teacher often had to speak loudly in order to make sure all students can hear what he is speaking. This created a habitual culture in China in which 'speaking loudly' was considered to be a norm.

IMO, this kind of habits will more likely change with increasing urbanization in China and with changes in social behavior.

Edited by General_Zhaoyun, 25 August 2009 - 11:09 PM.

[HappyHistorian]

If you visit Chinese restaurants in China, you will more likely realize that most Chinese restaurants are usually boisterous and "noisy" with many Chinese people chatting and talking loudly. In fact, if Chinese restaurants were too quiet, it would seem to be quite 'strange' as it might mean "no business" or "business is too poor". This form of Chinese behavior can be seen as somewhat unsightly and rude in Western culture. Unfortunately, "speaking loudly" tends to a phenomenon in China's Culture. It will only change in the future with increasing development and improvement on social behavior.

That's a good point! It's just a habit for some people, such as many Cantonese, to speak loudly in public. As GZ said many Cantonese are exposed to noisy atmospheres, so they go with the flow and speak louder. I don't think they realise how loud they are!

Edited by HappyHistorian, 26 August 2009 - 05:38 AM.

[Juchechosunmanse]

I have to say the Cantonese are the loudest of all people!

[大泽升龙]

I have to say the Cantonese are the loudest of all people!

It is also possible related to the cantonese language since some pronunciations are very tense in this dialect.

[calibre2001]

I don't it's fair to apply this to cantonese people only. I've seen middle aged Mandarin speakers to Taiwanese speakers to Hakka speakers talking so loud. Its more to do income level.

[大泽升龙]

I don't it's fair to apply this to cantonese people only. I've seen middle aged Mandarin speakers to Taiwanese speakers to Hakka speakers talking so loud. Its more to do income level.

It is obvious that this is a very narrow-minded question which just reflects the poster's thought. The loudest people I have met were German guys in a French pub.

[Juchechosunmanse]

I don't it's fair to apply this to cantonese people only. I've seen middle aged Mandarin speakers to Taiwanese speakers to Hakka speakers talking so loud. Its more to do income level.

Sure every language/dialect/ethnic group has loud speakers. Call me biased or narrow-minded all you want, my observations tell me that on average the Cantonese speakers are the loudest. I'd even say 7 out of 10 Cantonese speakers I have seen were loud.

[WangGeon]

Sure every language/dialect/ethnic group has loud speakers. Call me biased or narrow-minded all you want, my observations tell me that on average the Cantonese speakers are the loudest. I'd even say 7 out of 10 Cantonese speakers I have seen were loud.

As a person with Cantonese heritage, I'm inclined to agree to a certain extent. Many of my Cantonese relatives and nearly all of my Cantonese neighbors can be pretty loud. Even Cantonese university students come off as rude and boisterous so I don't think income level is really related. It's probably more related to a people's historical environment and habits stemming from response to the environment. Such habits carried over from previous generations influence the socialization of later ones. I wouldn't say that Cantonese are necessarily the loudest while they are among the loud ones. [Note that the same thing can be observed among Jeju Koreans, a phenomena which is said to be due to Jeju being very windy, the historically agricultural and sea-dependent character of the Jeju economy, and the subsequent need for loud speaking].

[moobie]

I'm not Cantonese myself but when they speak loudly to me I don't have trouble realizing that they are being amiable and not rude.

[yongzheng freak]

I remember a classmate who is a chinese national once remarked that she found locals speak rather softly. It's a culture thing, I suppose.

[mrclub]

people in Northern China speak more softly, right ?

and are you sure Cantonese people speak loudly ? i think Taiwanese and some Hokkien people in Southeast Asia also speak very loudly too...and their tone is 粗

[General_Zhaoyun]

and are you sure Cantonese people speak loudly ? i think Taiwanese and some Hokkien people in Southeast Asia also speak very loudly too...and their tone is 粗

IMO, it generally has to do with education and family background. If you're born into a large family and your parents or siblings tend to speak loudly, you will be more likely to be influenced by them to speak loudly. Large family are usually more 'noisy' and you will need to raise your voices to be heard.

On the other hand, if your family is very soft-spoken or small, then chances are that you will speak in softer 'more elegant' manner.

I notice my voices are generally louder, because my parents had louder voices. Somehow or later, I'm influenced by them. My wife, who comes from a more soft-spoken family, commented that I sometimes speak loudly.

[pinpin]

i thought ALL chinese are loud speakers, whether you are from north or south. if you have such huge population, you really have to speak the loudest to be heard