Sometimes when I hear Chinese people talking about "Standard" Putonghua accent (or Chinese with no discernable "twang") I kinda get a bit fed up.

I'm from Newfoundland in Canada, a place where accent is definitely intertwined with culture - and I'm kinda sad that over the years I've mostly lost my "around-the-bay" Newfie accent. If ya want to hear a sample of that, check out my grandmother on the radio.

Anyway, one thing I like about Dalian, here in the Northeast of China, is the "Dongbei-ness." (Dongbei literally means "East-north"). When I chat some Chinese people about this topic, many seem to think that "fangyan" or local accents are bad things that should be shed like yesterday's dandruff. What the hell is that?

But in some parts of the media, I'm glad to say Dongbeity is indeed being celebrated. Just check out this little tune made famous a few years back. It was the title song for a sitcom. The tune goes:
"We are all Dongbei people."

which in standard Mandarin should sound:
"Women dou shi Dongbei ren"

but in fact, here' in Dongbei, it sounds:
"Anmen dou si Dongbei yin"

Check out the song for yourself below:



Or if that doesn't grab your interest, how about Dongbei Tom and Jerry?







Tags: China, Chinese, Dongbei, Dalian, Newfoundland, Northeastern China, newfie, Chinese Language, pandapassport, Tom and Jerry in Chinese, Tom and Jerry Dongbei Style