Chinese is the third most widely used language in the US. Chinese American immigration history started antebellum, while some records even show before the 18th century. Cantonese is the main language used in Chinatowns because that was the region in China with active port cities. In the recent 30 years, Mandarin as a spoken language has been growing. In Chinese American print newspaper, magazines, websites and signage Traditional Chinese is still used more widely in the US as its use predates simplified Chinese which was launched in 1957. Besides the variations in spoken and written Chinese, what has remained a more consistent means of communication between Chinese people is Chinese culture and manners/etiquette which have shaped their likes and dislikes, aesthetic appreciation, and social exchanges.
About Author
yvonne.liu.wolf
Yvonne Wolf was born in Taiwan and educated in the U.S. and Europe. She has extensive experience living and working internationally (Denmark and Japan). She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Danish, and has studied Japanese, Spanish, and Greek. Between work and personal travel, she has visited more than 20 countries and well-traveled within the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with organizations and business executives focusing on communication strategies working with Chinese and East Asian partners. Among her many skills is mediating across cultural misunderstandings.