Some time ago, Simone made a comment on this blog in which she said she would love to learn a bit about how the Chinese language works: “What I would be interested in finding out about (one day when I can be bothered and am in the mood!!), is how languages such as chinese and japanese work with symbols that are whole words, etc etc.” And I very rashly said I’d write something about it.
Well, since then I’ve been pondering how to approach this topic, without turning it into a scholarly essay. I’ve even borrowed all these books on the Chinese language, which are very interesting, but which don’t particularly help me, as I seem to get completely engrossed in the detail.
So, in the interests of pushing myself along a bit, I thought I’d check: does anyone else have any burning questions about the Chinese language that they’d love answered? If so, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Of course, you may not, but I thought I’d ask anyway.
9 Comments
CW,
Does a native speaker of a language based on a pictogram system think differently from someone who is literate in a language based on an alphabet?
I believe many words are exactly the same, but their meaning is determined solely by inflection or context. Given this:
Do little kids get confused?
How would someone with a language deficit, like Aspergers where they don’t fully understand pragmatics of language, cope?
Is the punning richer in Chinese?
Hello Edward, and Kathryn, you both realise you have asked some tough questions, don’t you? š
But thanks, I’ll endeavour to answer them soon!
P.S. Nice blog, Edward. I might have to follow up on some of your recommendations!
Con, I can’t wait to read your article about this…anna
Oh man, the pressure…!
š
By the way check your PO Box Anna š
Oh no, the pressure!
I feel a bit bad, but on the other hand, I do know you love languages! š
I could just do a google search (though, I guess that’d take me a while before I found something basic, but you never know, I should just try. Instead, I’m just procrastinating, like always….!!!
Shame you can’t make it to the bloggers meet, but have a great SL christmas party!!
š
Simone
No worries Simone, I’d better get cracking š Have a good time this evening at the meetup!
Dear CW,
I’m especially curious about context too. The same sound with the same tone can have a completely different ideogram?? Context is how to keep them straight, I guess, but… wow! How does that really work?
Thanks,
WE
Woody – it can be difficult but it does work! Makes for rich puns, though. I think puns in Chinese would be a whole post on its own…