Having been a laowai in Suzhou for 4 years in the past, I am familiar with the "Hello!" phenomenon as pointed out by Mr. Olivier Roos in China Today August 2002. This has, however, never caused me any irritation. By responding with "Hello" or "Nihao," I could start a conversation, mostly with young students, who wanted to practice English.

If a young girl, guided by her mother, says "Hello" to Mr. Olivier Roos and his wife, he should answer: "Nihao, How are you? Can you speak English?" Their reaction will indicate whether or not this "hello" was for show or a real attempt to communicate. By exchanging grimaces with his wife he effectively blocked any communication that may have followed.

Helping Chinese people to practice speaking foreign languages will without doubt lead to a more international atmosphere. Laowais should help.

WIM TJ. ROBBEREGT
Netherlands

Different Opinions

The following is my response to a letter to the editor in your June 2002 issue, entitled "Suggestions."

I disagree with several of these "Suggestions," for example:

"My overall impression of your magazine is that the layout is a bit cliched and old fashioned, and I suggest you make it more lively."

This brings to mind a letter I wrote to China Pictorial after they introduced a major layout change:

I do not like the new layout that you have introduced. I far prefer the more sedate format used through to the year 2000.

There is also a practical problem. I am building my own personal information base. In it I store, among many other things, texts I have downloaded from the Internet. Occasionally, I also introduce texts obtained from scanning a magazine or newspaper article. In the new format some text is in white letters on a black background, which I cannot scan. Also, the comparatively irregular layout of pages makes scanning more difficult.

A specific example of how perceived esthetics impedes ease of reading is the article on page 22 and 23 of the January 2001 issue. The titles of the articles that start on pages 40 and 78 of the same issue fall under the same category. I think the reader should be able to read the title of an article at just a glance.

My opinion, in short, is that you have added a lot of superfluous and bothersome visual hype.

Another "suggestion" in the June issue states:

"Apart from some focus reports, the articles should not be overlong, and short sentences are best."

This suggestion gives me the impression that its writer would like you to "dumb down" your magazine.

"To capture the interest of readers, it is best to frame and color the main articles, as well as adding briefs."

Again, a suggestion that makes me shudder.

"Add some cartoons for the enjoyment of foreign readers."

The purpose of cartoons in your magazine should be to give the reader an idea of Chinese humor.

"It is better to accompany articles with color photos (black-and-white photos are too serious), and I suggest your magazine be printed in full color (The North American edition is mostly black and white - Ed.)."

I hope this suggestion means that all photographs should be in color. That would be nice, but I may not like the resultant price increase. Also, I urge you to keep all text that you want readers to read in black on white.

HERMANN J. HASSIG
USA