tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13961468.post1130908455239821728..comments2024-02-14T07:29:25.919-05:00Comments on Cook Ding's Kitchen: What is the Chinese Language?Rick Matzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699550034693340637noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13961468.post-45743994973947960712012-01-05T21:41:43.863-05:002012-01-05T21:41:43.863-05:00Thanks for the book lead! It's now on my wish ...Thanks for the book lead! It's now on my wish list at Amazon.Rick Matzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09699550034693340637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13961468.post-10281757259403893892012-01-05T21:31:01.861-05:002012-01-05T21:31:01.861-05:00I would recommend the book : The Chinese Language ...I would recommend the book : The Chinese Language : Fact and Fantasy by John Defrancis. <br /><br />I definitely learned a lot about how different the northern and southern dialects are, as well as interesting facts that northern chinese and southern chinese are genetically quite different, with southern chinese more similar to the thai and vietnamese.Bernard Kwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10736797094346584978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13961468.post-17926662295222845262012-01-04T02:04:43.431-05:002012-01-04T02:04:43.431-05:00Come on. ... It is as easy as doing BGZ. ..Come on. ... It is as easy as doing BGZ. ..Compass Strategisthttp://compass360consulting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13961468.post-3655023308194568072012-01-02T09:53:46.753-05:002012-01-02T09:53:46.753-05:00I think it would be hard to learn Chinese without ...I think it would be hard to learn Chinese without having been brought up with an ear for the tones.Rick Matzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09699550034693340637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13961468.post-13057760712278922762012-01-02T03:51:25.310-05:002012-01-02T03:51:25.310-05:00Hi Rick, I studied linguistics in University....bu...Hi Rick, I studied linguistics in University....but just a short note (com'on now is my holidays too!). The "linguists' approach" you mentioned made much sense in general, though the saying "Pinyin (the standard Roman system) could just as easily be used for Chinese." is definitely wrong. Chinese (in whatever dialects) is a tonal language, like Cantonese has nine tones whereas Mandarin has 4 tones, which essentially means the same pinyin can have, say for Cantonese, nine different meaning, and therefore has to be identified by one of nine markers, that makes writing and reading impossible for any practical purpose!<br /><br />Cheers!Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15867403006412320812noreply@blogger.com