Yesterday I had Boon, who speaks Mandarin & Cantonese, describe both. "Say something long," I said. "Say the same thing in English, then Cantonese, then Mandarin." "Oh man," he said, "That's hard -- to remember something long." He thought a moment then began. I shut my eyes.
When he finished, he laughed. "I should see if you can tell which is which," he said. "I can," I said confidently, and shut my eyes again. I got 6 out of 7 right, of random at-speed fragments. I don't know if I can do this with anyone; but I could do it with him. Mandarin was slurry, fast, slippery. Cantonese was abrupt, jerky. The only one I missed was where the Mandarin had a jerk in it. "Is Mandarin more native to you?" I asked. "Yes," he said.
How does this map to Henry V? I don't know.
I can't dismiss it. I just don't know how to use it yet. I want to move forward on all axes at once.
Boon is a gift all himself.
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