Comments on: Language Learning is Messy II: Talk a Lot http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm Tips and Strategies for Learning to Speak Mandarin Chinese Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:11:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Susan http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-4158 Susan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:08:28 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-4158 Albert, I read that you translate songs. Is there a popular Chinese song that is also a popular American song (that is, the tune would be recognizable to Americans). I'm a vocalist, looking to add a song in Chinese to my repertoire. Can you suggest one, and maybe where I could download it? Thanks! Albert, I read that you translate songs. Is there a popular Chinese song that is also a popular American song (that is, the tune would be recognizable to Americans). I’m a vocalist, looking to add a song in Chinese to my repertoire. Can you suggest one, and maybe where I could download it? Thanks!

]]> By: Aorijia http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3932 Aorijia Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:05:27 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3932 It's gonna be great to have the book with all this useful info in it!! Go for it!! It’s gonna be great to have the book with all this useful info in it!! Go for it!!

]]> By: Liu http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3456 Liu Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:18:43 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3456 I'm a Chinese native speaker,and i just wonder can you guys read Chinese?I ofter hear that some foreigners can speak Chinese but cannot read or write.If you can write,you may send me your writings at joy1225@gmail.com and i can correct them for you.:) I’m a Chinese native speaker,and i just wonder can you guys read Chinese?I ofter hear that some foreigners can speak Chinese but cannot read or write.If you can write,you may send me your writings at joy1225@gmail.com and i can correct them for you.:)

]]> By: Aaron Marshall http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3364 Aaron Marshall Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:10:00 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3364 Great blog Albert! I've got a couple friends in china, that this will be helpful to! Great blog Albert! I’ve got a couple friends in china, that this will be helpful to!

]]> By: Joel http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3078 Joel Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:38:46 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3078 One thing that's really helped is choosing to live in an older, all-Chinese community. We're the only foreigners in the neighbourhood, and it's more of an old-school, out-doors kind of community, so we see the same people on the same corner every day, the same "neighbourhood characters" everyday, and that means that every time we leave or come home, we have a chance to talk (or eat, drink, play chess, or whatever) with people. It has it's drawbacks - mostly that it's not as nice or convenient or private or quiet as all the other foreigner's places we've been to. But we came here to learn Chinese, and for us, living in a Chinese neighbourhood is totally worth it, and a lot of fun if you're into the people. One thing that’s really helped is choosing to live in an older, all-Chinese community. We’re the only foreigners in the neighbourhood, and it’s more of an old-school, out-doors kind of community, so we see the same people on the same corner every day, the same “neighbourhood characters” everyday, and that means that every time we leave or come home, we have a chance to talk (or eat, drink, play chess, or whatever) with people.

It has it’s drawbacks - mostly that it’s not as nice or convenient or private or quiet as all the other foreigner’s places we’ve been to. But we came here to learn Chinese, and for us, living in a Chinese neighbourhood is totally worth it, and a lot of fun if you’re into the people.

]]> By: Thurman http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3069 Thurman Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:30:37 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-3069 中国话,要看你想学到什么程度. 如果只是日常用语的话,多听就熟悉了. 要是想看懂中文古籍的话,那就得先熟悉中国文化了. 不知道我说这些,你看得懂吗? Do you know what i mean? 中国话,要看你想学到什么程度.
如果只是日常用语的话,多听就熟悉了.
要是想看懂中文古籍的话,那就得先熟悉中国文化了.

不知道我说这些,你看得懂吗?

Do you know what i mean?

]]> By: Jim Mahler http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-2573 Jim Mahler Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:37:59 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-2573 The lack of cognates (words derived from the same root) makes Chinese difficult for Westerners. Equivalents (words with different roots but similar meanings) also create problems, because the apparent equivalency can be misleading. For example, my Chinese-English dictionary says 水 (shui3) and water are equivalents. However, when a Chinese host asks you 想喝点水吗 (xiang3 he1 dian3 shui3 ma, literally would you like some water) he’s really asking if you want something to drink. If you say yes, you’ll almost certainly be served tea, not water. Similarly, 茶水 (cha2shui3, literally tea water) refers to brewed tea as opposed to leaves; 汽水 (qi4shui3, literally aerated water) means soft drink, and 酒水 (jiu3shui3, literally alcoholic water) means grape wine or beer. (At first I thought 酒水might refer specifically to American beer, but it doesn’t.) In these uses, the meaning of 水is closer to “a beverage” than to “water”. And remember, as hard as these nuances may be for us to learn, they’re just as hard for Chinese learning English. Whew! Just thinking about it makes me break out in a sweat (汗水, han4shui3). The lack of cognates (words derived from the same root) makes Chinese difficult for Westerners. Equivalents (words with different roots but similar meanings) also create problems, because the apparent equivalency can be misleading.

For example, my Chinese-English dictionary says 水 (shui3) and water are equivalents. However, when a Chinese host asks you 想喝点水吗 (xiang3 he1 dian3 shui3 ma, literally would you like some water) he’s really asking if you want something to drink. If you say yes, you’ll almost certainly be served tea, not water. Similarly, 茶水 (cha2shui3, literally tea water) refers to brewed tea as opposed to leaves; 汽水 (qi4shui3, literally aerated water) means soft drink, and 酒水 (jiu3shui3, literally alcoholic water) means grape wine or beer. (At first I thought 酒水might refer specifically to American beer, but it doesn’t.) In these uses, the meaning of 水is closer to “a beverage” than to “water”.

And remember, as hard as these nuances may be for us to learn, they’re just as hard for Chinese learning English. Whew! Just thinking about it makes me break out in a sweat (汗水, han4shui3).

]]> By: Bill Foulk http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-2493 Bill Foulk Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:56:34 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-ii-talk-a-lot.htm#comment-2493 From my experience and bias, exposure in the vein of "Just Do It" is the only thing that really counts. Learning a language is not an intellectual process. If it was all of the stupid people in the World, and we, I believe, make up the vast majority, would have never learned a language. People who are born mentally retarded usually learn a language well. However, if you are an adult in China for the first time, perhaps the best way to get that exposure is to get yourself a live-in boyfriend or girlfriend that does not speak English. It is fun, can be emotional, and you are guaranteed to learn. Otherwise, you will starve, do all the cleaning yourself and take all of your showers alone. Just make sure you have a good dictionary. A friend of mine gave me a small one we call "Cubby," and it was the most used item in my apartment. From my experience and bias, exposure in the vein of “Just Do It” is the only thing that really counts.
Learning a language is not an intellectual process. If it was all of the stupid people in the World, and we, I believe, make up the vast majority, would have never learned a language. People who are born mentally retarded usually learn a language well.
However, if you are an adult in China for the first time, perhaps the best way to get that exposure is to get yourself a live-in boyfriend or girlfriend that does not speak
English. It is fun, can be emotional, and you are guaranteed to learn. Otherwise, you will starve, do all the cleaning yourself and take all of your showers alone. Just make sure you have a good dictionary. A friend of mine gave me a small one we call “Cubby,” and it was the most used item in my apartment.

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