Shanghai Dialect Promoted on Public Transit

The city government of Shanghai announced that a pilot program that broadcasted information in the Shanghai dialect on public transportation would be expanded. Formerly, announcements about upcoming stops and safety practices were available only in Mandarin and English. The city will be adding the service to more bus routes.

Shanghai began the pilot program on the request of local public transit users, many of whom are senior citizens who are not fluent in Mandarin and would benefit from receiving the information in their native Shanghai dialect.

The dialect is considered endangered, with a decreasing number of young speakers as the city welcomes residents from other regions and abroad. Broadcasting the Shanghai dialect will give it more exposure.

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