Chinese and Russian Language: One Small Difference

Summary

The author, a polyglot with experience living in China and Russia, notes a distinct difference in the use of subtitles on television between the two countries, attributing the necessity of subtitles in China to the diversity of dialects and the lack thereof in Russia to the linguistic policies under Stalin.

Abstract

The article discusses the author's personal observations on the linguistic differences encountered while living in China and Russia, particularly through the lens of television broadcasting. In China, the author has consistently found subtitles in Chinese across various TV channels, regardless of the content, to accommodate the wide range of dialects and accents that may hinder mutual understanding. Conversely, in Russia, the same level of linguistic diversity does not seem to necessitate subtitles, a situation the author attributes to the historical linguistic policies implemented during Stalin's era, which aimed to standardize the Russian language. The author reflects on the practicality of subtitles for both speakers and listeners in China, emphasizing the importance of clear communication in a multilingual society. The article invites readers to consider their own experiences with subtitles during their travels and to engage with the author's work by clicking on their name.

Opinions

The author believes that living in a country is not enough to comment on its linguistic nuances; one must also be fluent in the language.
Watching television while traveling is seen as a double-edged sword by the author, who acknowledges it as both a guilty pleasure and a legitimate way to relax.
The author suggests that being a polyglot can be both advantageous and burdensome, especially when it comes to channel-surfing in multiple languages.
The necessity of subtitles in China is seen as a practical solution to the country's linguistic diversity, ensuring that speakers of different dialects can understand television content.
The

It’s right there on the screen.

Life has taken me to China and Russia and left me in both places for significant amounts of time.

Okay, that was probably a weird way to say that I’ve lived in both China and Russia and therefore, with hands-on experience, am well positioned to say what I’m about to say.

No, that doesn’t quite do it, and I’d like to think that any avid traveler would agree with me. Considering the title of this article, it is not enough that I’ve lived in the two countries. I must speak the languages as well. (I’m not sure about you, but my credibility alarm rings pretty loudly when someone who doesn’t speak a given language goes on and on about the linguistic details.) I do. Let’s move on.

To do so, I must make a confession. I’ve done a horrible thing. More than once. More than twice. More than thrice. More than… Well, you get the idea.

I… have… watched television… while traveling.

Yes, I know, I know. Shame on me. How dare I waste precious minutes of any trip by staring at the idiot box?

What’s that you say? Sometimes it’s okay? A weary traveler has to unwind somehow after a long day of trekking through cultural monuments, historical sites, jam-packed museums, and even more jam-packed natural landscapes.

Sure, going out on the town is a fun way to unwind. But what if you’re alone? What if you’re not up for a drink? What if you really don’t need to do any more walking after your 30,000 steps for the day?

Great, turn on the TV.

Usually and understandably, when engaging in this activity, a traveler might channel-surf to find something in a language they can understand. Fortunately (and unfortunately — being a polyglot is not always a good thing) for me, the options might be a bit more than average or typical.

And here’s what you came for: the difference.

I tune in to the local channels when I get a chance, and I’ve done this in various cities across China and Russia.

I have never found out the official policy (if there is one) for this, but experience has time and time again pointed me to this: On TV in China, there are subtitles in Chinese. In Russia, there are no Russian subtitles.

Why is this? Are Chinese dialects simply more various than Russian ones? Well, yes.

Subtitles are necessary on TV in China. For speaker and listener. It doesn’t matter whether the TV channel in question is news, entertainment, or something in between (I understand that in the US some channels are both, but in China this is rarely the case). The speaker may be speaking with a very nonstandard accent that comes from their dialect (let’s not confuse “dialect” and “accent”). The listener may not understand the standardized language very well.

Subtitles are not necessary on TV in Russia. Stalin made sure of that — purposely or inadvertently.

What have you noticed about subtitles in the local/national language while watching TV during your travels?

Dash Ip hopes that, if you enjoy clicking through channels, you might click his name.