I know this has been posted a 1000 times, but i still don't know the anwser. Because he gives interviews with translater, but in picture you see him talk to americans and laugh and al like they understand and i don't think all those americans can speak Chineese (like Vince Carter). and i've heard he could speak english. maybe he speaks in interviews with a translater so there will be no misunderstandments. but i just don't know it, so if anybody KNOWS it, (i don't want people who think it or think the've heard it, anwsering this question) so maybe W&S knows the anwser. Thanks.
as long as he understands basketball terms we are good. the rest of the day yao can have an interpreter by his side.
He will get better at it, but for now he speaks a little. Once he gets in the USA for an extended period he will adjust and his English will improve dramatically. DD
"Once and <b>FORE</b> all"??? I think a better question might be: can YOU speak English? Sorry, couldn't resist.
To answer seriously now, there was a great story on ESPN about a month ago talking about Nene Hilario. He speaks English but not enough to feel comfortable. A translator was quoted in the story saying that a lot of players for whom English is not a primary language prefer to allow a translator to say things for them when it comes to the media for fear they will say something stupid or offensive. With their friends, teammates and coaches, they'll speak more on their own. Thing is, this is NOT that big of a hurdle. Anyone who has been in a foreign country for any extended period of time and needed to speak the langauge to comminicate and get around knows that immersion is the best technique for learning a language. You can take classes and practice, but there is nothing like actually speaking it and having to learn as you go. He's a smart kid. He'll pick up everything he needs soon enough.
Toni Kukoc had serious communication difficulties in his early years in NBA (as reported somewhere, even had problems with Phil Jackson because of that), and he was from Europe where in general people have much more exposure to English language than people in Asia. As a non-native speaker myself, I know it's very very hard to become fluent. It takes long time to be able to talk to reporter without an interpreter off court. Fortunately, Yao has a common language on court with other people--BBall. He should be OK. Plus when he can't hear it clearly, he can see it from far away.
Dammit Jeff that was a cheap free post, I could've done the same but I spared the man simply because he was from the legendary Surge Zwikkers land.....
Rudy: "Yao, go there and kick some butt!!" Ming (reluctantly): " But coach, last time I kicked a guy and I was ejected!" Rudy: "NO, not actually kick butt, I mean just kill them, oh, no, no... Ming: "coach, I am just kidding"
When MING meets Sir Charles, hope he'll say. You MxTHERXXXXXX, how could u dis me like that. Get your big fat ugly ass out of here. Remember what he said about what's his thought on MING being the #1 pick during the night of the draft. "He cant speak English" and that pretty much summed up all he said that night. Ignorance or jealousy I guess.
If it's not his big fat mouth that i heard that night, I need some bigtime Q-tips to clean my ears. Kenny did concur with him about Yao will have problem with non"structural English".
For some reason, all I can think of right now is that Pippen/Olajuwon Visa commercial. Maybe Franchise and Yao can do a remake?
I'll bet that Ming has enough "basketball english" to do just fine.... i really ain't worried. --- jeff
Wang can speak pretty good english on court, I heard him communicate with teammate in summer legual..so Yao should have no problem
