Asian American Commercial Watch: Chinese American Couple In Honda Really Big Sales Event TV

http://youtu.be/O6NV6xFLFks

When I saw the beginning and middle of this Honda television commercial, I was wondering – why is Honda showing a Chinese American couple speaking Mandarin in an English language commercial? Odd that the U.S. subsidiary of a Japanese auto manufacturer would be pushing the “foreignness” of a Chinese American couple. But after seeing the ending, I thought the commercial was hilarious brilliant. I just love how the couple reacts after the salesman responds in perfect Mandarin.

I recall many times when my parents resorted to speaking in Mandarin or Taiwanese to discuss privately issues around purchasing something in front of a salesperson.With the growing popularity of studying Mandarin, it’s not too surprising to see non-Chinese speaking Mandarin. I have to say, this actor’s Mandarin (unless it was dubbed perfectly) seemed pretty spot on.

I do wonder – would this same concept work for other ethnicities and languages? I guess if you had a Hispanic couple speaking Spanish and then an Asian American salesperson responding back in Spanish would work.

 

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About John

I'm a Taiwanese-American and was born & raised in Western Massachusetts, went to college in upstate New York, worked in Connecticut, went to grad school in North Carolina and then moved out to the Bay Area in 1999 and have been living here ever since - love the weather and almost everything about the area (except the high cost of housing...)
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