Comments on: Learning Mandarin through necessity http://archive.fortes.com/2006/09/18/learning-mandarin-through-necessity/ Typed live in front of a studio audience in Seattle Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:18:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: chinawoman http://archive.fortes.com/2006/09/18/learning-mandarin-through-necessity/#comment-2276 chinawoman Tue, 19 Sep 2006 22:40:25 +0000 http://archive.fortes.com/2006/09/18/learning-mandarin-through-necessity/#comment-2276 1. eggs are used in swearing because they are indeed a beautiful part of life. They are vital, necessary and representative of life itself. However, when an egg goes bad, it can destroy and even kill. Thus, swearing in a negative situation reflects the "evil" of the moment at hand. 2. Why swear at all? I've lived in China for four years now and I haven't found swearing to be necessary. I didn't swear in my home country either. To me, swearing reflects a lack of culture and more or less, the same lack of control as the situation that you are frustrated with. Granted, I get angry and irritated just like anyone else (and yes, I've had attempted thefts before also), but swearing doesn't help. I good swift "kick in the pants" as well as a shout in any language can do the trick! 1. eggs are used in swearing because they are indeed a beautiful part of life. They are vital, necessary and representative of life itself. However, when an egg goes bad, it can destroy and even kill. Thus, swearing in a negative situation reflects the “evil” of the moment at hand.

2. Why swear at all? I’ve lived in China for four years now and I haven’t found swearing to be necessary. I didn’t swear in my home country either. To me, swearing reflects a lack of culture and more or less, the same lack of control as the situation that you are frustrated with. Granted, I get angry and irritated just like anyone else (and yes, I’ve had attempted thefts before also), but swearing doesn’t help. I good swift “kick in the pants” as well as a shout in any language can do the trick!

]]> By: chhan http://archive.fortes.com/2006/09/18/learning-mandarin-through-necessity/#comment-2267 chhan Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:33:30 +0000 http://archive.fortes.com/2006/09/18/learning-mandarin-through-necessity/#comment-2267 Man, I'm glad it was unsuccessful! I've never quite understood why chinese swearing involves eggs (turtle egg, bad egg, zero duck egg) particularly because eggs are used in like every chinese dish and dessert. Man, I’m glad it was unsuccessful! I’ve never quite understood why chinese swearing involves eggs (turtle egg, bad egg, zero duck egg) particularly because eggs are used in like every chinese dish and dessert.

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