Why Characters Speak In Chinese? by WheelsOfJoy

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Why Characters Speak In Chinese?

POSTED BY: WHEELSOFJOY
UPDATED: Saturday, August 19, 2006 14:25
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Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:02 AM

I was wondering if you guys could assist me in explaining why the characters in "Firefly" sometimes speak in Chinese. I am recently introducing "Firefly" to a friend of mine who likes it so far(he's only watched the first three episodes) and he asked me that.

I explained it the best I could but I don't think I did the greatest job and was wondering if my fellow Browncoats could assist me as I know this question has most likely come up in the past. Thank you.

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Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:04 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

The Alliance was formed by the two great superpowers of Earth; America and China. They built big ships and transported as many people as possible off Earth That Was. An entire generation lived on these ships, interacting closely with each other. So, while there are two main Core planets where they set up, Sihnon (China) and Londonium (America) everyone, and I mean everyone, is fluent in both English and Chinese.
Plus, it was a really convenient way to slip swearwords in without having to bleep anything.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. - Gautama Siddharta

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Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:26 AM

CRUITHNE3753

It's also pretty shiny to have a special language in the show, bit like having Klingon in Trek.

The big difference is, Klingon is useless outside of Trek conventions, whilst Mandarin is a real world useful language. If Firefly had got a decent run, it might probably have had a good educational knock-on effect in this respect.

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Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:45 AM

FIZZIX

Quote:
Originally posted by Cruithne3753:
It's also pretty shiny to have a special language in the show, bit like having Klingon in Trek.

The big difference is, Klingon is useless outside of Trek conventions, whilst Mandarin is a real world useful language. If Firefly had got a decent run, it might probably have had a good educational knock-on effect in this respect.

Not true about the Klingon, I will tell you. There are people in institutions who speak only Klingon. There are people who make a living translating Klingon into English because of this. I'm not one. But it'd be fun.

/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
May not be smart, and it may not please you, but you're definitely gonna see what I have to say.
1000 paper cranes for QUIETSERENITY's mother's tumor. 988 left, with 12/1000 done. 1.2% done.

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Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:48 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Quote:
Originally posted by Fizzix:
[There are people in institutions who speak only Klingon.

Are they in institutions because they will only speak Klingon?

More animations available at http://desktophippie.googlepages.com

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Saturday, August 19, 2006 2:25 PM

MORDACIL

Fizzix is feferring to mental hospitals where some patients only speak Klingon

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one, so I joined starfleet and was stationed at the SGC to fight the covenant, whos gate happens to be down, and through which I must cast the ring from whence it came. It was our last best hope for peace but it failed so millions of voices cried out and were suddenly silent but there was no spoon and also no fate but what we make for ourselves.
-I thought of that in the shower

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