The Last Speaker of the Old Market

Every Saturday, 72-year-old Chen walks to the old market in his town.

He carries a small recorder in his pocket, because fewer and fewer people still speak the local dialect.

In his childhood, everyone bought fish and vegetables while chatting in this language.

Now, most young people only use Mandarin, even at home with their grandparents.

Chen started recording old songs and stories five years ago, after his best friend died.

He believes that a language disappears when its last speaker stops talking.

Last month, a language teacher visited him and asked for help.

She wants to make a phone app so students can listen to real conversations.

Chen agreed at once, and they have recorded twenty short dialogues so far.

However, some older people refuse to join the project, saying that their dialect sounds embarrassing on a phone.

Chen understands their worry, but he keeps recording quietly.

He thinks that a language is not just words; it holds the history of a whole community.