Chinese becomes No.3 language in Canada

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 01, 2004

Chinese becomes No.3 language in Canada

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In Canada if you don't speak English or French it is most likely that you speak Chinese. This is indicated by the latest census conducted by the Canadian government. According to the statistics Chinese has become a No.3 language used in Canada and the number of people who speak Chinese keeps on increasing.

According to Nouvelles d'Europe from 1996 to 2001, the population whose mother tongue is Chinese grew 18 percent and reached 870,000 - about 2.9 percent out of 31.4 million of the population in Canada, a rise 0.3 percent over the original Chinese proportion of 2.6 percent. Most of the Chinese-speaking population live in BC and Ontario, Vancouver and Toronto being the two most populous cities.

As an author once wrote, now in Vancouver and Toronto people can live quite easily even though they only speak Chinese instead of English. Here you can buy various hometown snacks of China's mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong and enjoy all kinds of Chinese cuisine of various styles. An article even says if you are unable to find a particular Chinese product in China you may have a try of your luck in Vancouver as the chance would have it that you won't feel disappointed. Some people even say the head chefs in charge of Chinese restaurants in Asian five-star scaled hotels are usually pupils and younger generations. If you really want to meet a master you'd better go to Vancouver. Though these sayings must be taken with a grain of salt nevertheless it has reflected the reality that Canada is teeming with "tigers who've crossed the river" (referring to people with special ability) from China's mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

There is about one million Chinese in Canada - only one out of scores of the total overseas Chinese population, not a great number at all. However, the Chinese language has become a subject for higher examination as defined by the provincial education ministries of Canada. When it comes to the days of Chinese Spring Festival officials ranging from the Prime minister to provincial governors and mayors of Vancouver and Toronto all come out in the open. Decked out in Chinese style suit (apparels of Chinese style) they join in Lion Dances and cut ribbons at ceremonies, or congratulate each other on happy Lunar New Year. Some even go to work in Chinese style suit.

The "No.3" conclusion of the statistics not only provides overseas Chinese with a chance for self-encouragement and self-examination but also those overseas Chinese or their descendants with hope and confidence to participate in and discuss on politics and get elected. Many scholars call on all the overseas Chinese to unite, unite and unite again. They need to give off, to participate in and to go into conformity with one another.

By People's Daily Online

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