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Vocabulary
| Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 官话 | Guānhuà | Mandarin (PN) |
| 普通话 | Pǔtōnghuà | Mandarin (PN) |
| 国语 | Guóyǔ | Mandarin (PN) |
| 语言 | yǔyán | language (N) |
| 通用语 | tōngyòngyǔ | common language/lingua franca (N) |
| 现代 | xiàndài | modern (Adj.) |
| 华语 | Huáyǔ | Chinese language (PN) |
| 方言 | fāngyán | dialect (N) |
| 声调 | shēngdiào | tone (N) |
| 一声 | yīshēng | first tone (N) |
| 二声 | èrshēng | second tone (N) |
| 三声 | sānshēng | third tone (N) |
| 四声 | sìshēng | fourth tone (N) |
| 语言学 | yǔyánxué | linguistics (N) |
| 语言学家 | yǔyánxuéjiā | linguist (N) |
| 北京话 | Běijīnghuà | Beijing Dialect (PN) |
| 白话 | báihuà | vernacular (N) |
| 汉藏语系 | Hàn Zàng yǔxì | Sino-Tibetan Language Family (PN) |
Study Questions
- Consider the different terms used to refer to Mandarin or Chinese language in general. Can you think of reasons that different terms might be used in different contexts or locations?
- Mandarin is the national language of a country with a great deal of linguistic diversity. Do you think that a country such as China could succeed without a unifying standard language? Why or why not?
- When people refer to “Chinese language” what does that really mean?
- For Mandarin language learners: Is Mandarin difficult to learn/speak? Why or why not?
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