Recently, when singer Eason Chan held a concert in Macau, he caused a heated discussion about Cantonese and Mandarin because he refused the audience's request to "speak Chinese". It has aroused heated discussions among netizens. Does anyone think it's wrong to spend money trying to hear something they understand? Some people think that he is a little floating, let you speak your native language and have to please? Does anyone else think he really doesn't speak Mandarin? How he sings so slippery!
In fact, the dispute between Cantonese and Mandarin did not happen overnight. As one of the southern languages, Cantonese has a long history and rich cultural connotations. Although Mandarin is the standard language of modern Chinese, Cantonese is still widely spoken in the southern region. Hong Kong and Macau make it clear that Chinese and English are the official languages, and Cantonese is part of Chinese Mandarin.
First of all, we need to recognize that as a public figure, Eason Chan's performance in concert is not only his personal matter, but also an interaction between him and the audience. Fans are the food and clothing parents of singers, and public figures must have a certain cultivation and pattern! We cannot simply place the blame on Eason Chan personally, but should think about it from a broader perspective.
Secondly, in fact, many Cantonese singers also use Mandarin to interact with the audience when giving concerts in Cantonese-speaking areas. This is because, although Cantonese songs have a wide audience in the southern region, there are also many fans who like Cantonese songs in the northern region, especially in first-tier cities. They may not be good at Cantonese or even understand it at all. Therefore, the singer's use of Mandarin to interact with the audience at the concert is undoubtedly a sign of respect and tolerance.
At the same time, if the fans are not shouting, but adding polite words that the country vigorously promotes and popularizes, perhaps the singer will be more comfortable to listen to.
Furthermore, we must see that the differences between Cantonese and Mandarin are not irreconcilable. In fact, with the country's emphasis on promoting Mandarin, more and more southerners began to learn Mandarin. At the same time, many northerners began to learn Cantonese. This process of mutual learning and exchange has helped to enhance understanding and friendship between the peoples of the North and the South. Therefore, we should encourage and support this cultural exchange, rather than seeing it as a confrontation and conflict.
Finally, we should also see that the root of this problem is not whether Eason Chan can speak Mandarin, but his attitude and handling of the audience's demands. If Eason Chan had been able to face the audience's demands in a more inclusive and respectful manner, the controversy might not have happened.