Editor,

I read the article "Take pride in our accents" (November 19) and have some comments.

Language is used for communication.

Every dialect has its own charm. I am from Changsha in Hunan Province. I have found that some humour in our dialect can't be appreciated when translated into putonghua, just as some Chinese loses its flavour when translated into foreign languages. Since people think dialect is more effective and vivid in expressing themselves, and they are unwilling to abandon it.

The evolution of language is governed by some natural laws. We can lay out some basic rules, we can require the students to speak Mandarin in class, and demand officials use Mandarin in a TV address or in other circumstances, to enhance the influence and extension of the use of Mandarin. Nevertheless, even this can't change people's accents automatically.

Chinese culture is remarkable for its diversity within its unity: Different dialects are the very display of this diversity.

Undoubtedly, many people are proud of their dialects. Some of my college classmates even boasted that no outsider could understand their dialect. Nevertheless, there are some rules to abide by when using a dialect, for instance, if there is an outsider in the group with a different dialect, the others should speak in putonghua for the sake of communication.

I love languages, and I appreciate the variety of dialects in China.

P.M. Changsha, Hunan Province

(China Daily 11/24/2005 page4)