Mandarin Chinese: An IntroductionMandarin Chinese: An Introduction provides a systematic overview of Mandarin Chinese from the perspective of the English-speaking learner. Using a comparative approach, it contrasts grammatical, and other features of Mandarin Chinese language, with relevant issues in English. The book opens with a chapter on the setting of the Chinese language, giving a brief account of the historical, geographical, social, and linguistic background of China. Included is a discussion of how modern Chinese politics has played an important role in the development of modern standard Chinese. Other topics include sounds and tones, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and discourse. Mandarin Chinese brings a wide range of topics and issues together in one volume, presenting a coherent, easy-to-follow picture of the language, and a practical, efficient way to learn. |
Contents
Society | 9 |
Language relations and types | 23 |
Language reform and antitradition | 36 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
According action adjective adverb appears aspect becomes Beijing California called chapter characters China Chinese Chinese language chubanshe classical clause combination common Communist complement complex considered consisting context culture dialects dictionary discussed English English translation equivalent example expressed fact final foreign four function grammatical hanyu Hong indicate inflection instance John language linguistic Literal look Mandarin meaning measure word modified noun object official particle passive past person phrase pinyin political present Press pronounced published question radical refer reform relative rule rural script sentence shì simple simplified situation sound speak speakers spelling spoken starting stative verb strokes structure student Studies suffixes syllable Table Taiwan tense things tion tone translation University usually verb vowel whereas word order writing written zài