Comments on: Myths in Studying Chinese http://mattschiavenza.com/2007/09/21/myths-in-studying-chinese/ From the Dragon to the Apple- A Sinophile in New York Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:30:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chriswaugh_bj http://mattschiavenza.com/2007/09/21/myths-in-studying-chinese/comment-page-1/#comment-90 chriswaugh_bj Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:21:51 +0000 http://mattschiavenza.com/?p=67#comment-90 And I was going to ask how anybody could study oral Chinese separate from written Chinese, but then I remembered the school I went to had most of it's students writing only hanyu pinyin, because most of the students were rich expats in Beijing's CBD or their wives who thought that only being able to speak would be perfectly fine. Yeah, then go to a restaurant and try to feed yourself. Oh wait, such people only go to restaurants with picture menus or English menus (or both) and staff who speak enough English. Alright, I'm going to stop ranting. And I was going to ask how anybody could study oral Chinese separate from written Chinese, but then I remembered the school I went to had most of it’s students writing only hanyu pinyin, because most of the students were rich expats in Beijing’s CBD or their wives who thought that only being able to speak would be perfectly fine. Yeah, then go to a restaurant and try to feed yourself. Oh wait, such people only go to restaurants with picture menus or English menus (or both) and staff who speak enough English. Alright, I’m going to stop ranting.

]]> By: bezdomny ex patria » Blog Archive » good advice http://mattschiavenza.com/2007/09/21/myths-in-studying-chinese/comment-page-1/#comment-89 bezdomny ex patria » Blog Archive » good advice Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:18:36 +0000 http://mattschiavenza.com/?p=67#comment-89 [...] has some good advice for those wanting to study Chinese. Check it out, add your suggestions. Posted by wangbo Filed in Chinese [...] [...] has some good advice for those wanting to study Chinese. Check it out, add your suggestions. Posted by wangbo Filed in Chinese [...]

]]> By: chriswaugh_bj http://mattschiavenza.com/2007/09/21/myths-in-studying-chinese/comment-page-1/#comment-88 chriswaugh_bj Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:14:15 +0000 http://mattschiavenza.com/?p=67#comment-88 Excellent list, though I have to say some of these are new to me. Maybe I've been burying my head in the northern Chinese sand? Not difficult considering as soon as the wind picks up, one's head is surrounded by sand anyways. Some things to remember, though: Sure, you need to take personal responsibility for communication failures, but sometimes, as you point out, it is the other side's fault. It's not just that most Chinese people have never dealt with foreigners before; some are just racist pricks. Balance: Such people exist in every country, including New Zealand. More balance: Most Chinese people will deal with you as best they can; just do your best to speak to them in decent Chinese. And be prepared to deal with local accents and dialects. Tones aren't important? WTF? Run through all the tonal possibilities for 'ma': Mixing up your tones could turn smoking weed into sucking the big mother, sucking the big horse, or worse. Tones must not be overdone, but they are utterly essential. Tones are just as essential in any other language, but in European (and presumably all Indo-European) languages (not sure where the Finno-Ugric languages fit in here, though) they're done differently. Still, just as essential. Want to pretend tones aren't necessary? Then speak in a monotone. Stroke order is spelling. But, just like spelling, getting a recognisable character out of it is key. So yes, I agree in principle on all of your points. Just thought I'd add my two fen worth in. Excellent list, though I have to say some of these are new to me. Maybe I’ve been burying my head in the northern Chinese sand? Not difficult considering as soon as the wind picks up, one’s head is surrounded by sand anyways.

Some things to remember, though:

Sure, you need to take personal responsibility for communication failures, but sometimes, as you point out, it is the other side’s fault. It’s not just that most Chinese people have never dealt with foreigners before; some are just racist pricks. Balance: Such people exist in every country, including New Zealand. More balance: Most Chinese people will deal with you as best they can; just do your best to speak to them in decent Chinese. And be prepared to deal with local accents and dialects.

Tones aren’t important? WTF? Run through all the tonal possibilities for ‘ma’: Mixing up your tones could turn smoking weed into sucking the big mother, sucking the big horse, or worse. Tones must not be overdone, but they are utterly essential.

Tones are just as essential in any other language, but in European (and presumably all Indo-European) languages (not sure where the Finno-Ugric languages fit in here, though) they’re done differently. Still, just as essential. Want to pretend tones aren’t necessary? Then speak in a monotone.

Stroke order is spelling. But, just like spelling, getting a recognisable character out of it is key.

So yes, I agree in principle on all of your points. Just thought I’d add my two fen worth in.

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