Final answer:
The statements provided are a mixture of facts and opinions. Statements (a) and (d) can be seen as facts if supported by evidence, while statements (b), (c), and (e) represent opinions, especially with phrases like 'perhaps' and 'I believe'. It's crucial to discern between the provable nature of facts and the subjective nature of opinions, especially in discussions about language and identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the provided text, we can identify whether the statements are facts or opinions:
- Fact: Statement (a) 'languages regardless local or global, are means for humans to communicate with each other.' - This is a fact, as languages are indeed used globally for communication.
- Opinion: Statement (b) 'perhaps this was one of the factors why people learn other languages besides their own mother tongue.' - This statement is speculative and cannot be verified as a fact.
- Opinion: Statement (c) 'I believe the successful preservation of a minor language or any language is very much dependent on the number of users and their desire to use the language.' - The phrase 'I believe' clearly signals an opinion.
- Fact: Statement (d) 'many Chinese diasporas speak neither Mandarin nor a provincial language, but their sense of identity as ethnic Chinese is ever present.' - Assuming this is supported by evidence, it could be considered a fact about the cultural identity of the Chinese diaspora.
- Opinion: Statement (e) 'if the users of a language are not using that language at home, the users seem to have stopped believing that a particular language determines their cultural identity.' - This statement presents a viewpoint inferred by the speaker and is therefore an opinion.
It is essential to distinguish between facts and opinions when assessing statements. A fact is a statement that can be proven true or false, while an opinion is a belief, view, or judgment formed about something that is not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. In the context of language and identity, while there are factual elements regarding language usage and cultural identity, individuals' beliefs and interpretations about these relationships are often subjective and varied, resulting in opinions rather than concrete facts.