I’ve noticed that many folks from Taiwan, during presentations or in conversation, pose rhetorical questions in an unusually formulaic way, ie; [statement] “why?” [answer] This is further distinguished by the total absence of even the brief pause that you usually find in a rhetorical question. Sometimes it seems to run together as a single sentence, eg; “In Taiwan basic services are much more affordable than here why because we have much more competition instead of the monopolies that you have to deal with here.”
I’m hoping that someone who has learned English in Taiwan can explain this to me.
Specifically, is this a sort of transliteration of the way that a sentence might be delivered, or is it the because of the way English is taught?
I’m also curious to know if this delivery is as specific to Taiwan as I perceive it to be – I’ve never noticed Chinese folks doing this.
I also want to be clear that I don’t mean to offend anybody by asking “Why don’t they speak English right?” My own attempts to learn Mandarin have so far been pitiful, and I look forward to the day when I can communicate at a practical level at all, regardless of whatever slightly “off” delivery I end up with.