I Also Speak English Sometimes

Comments

1. Edmund says

   March 29, 2009 at 12:51 am

   I’ve been trying to help my girlfriend with learning Mandarin, with Han Yu Pin Yin. She’s having massive difficulties with the vowels, and dipthongs and all.

   And then I have to explain consonant sounds of “X”, “J” and “Q”. It’s frustrating for her.

   So I fully agree with how people learn with their inventory of sounds.

   Reply
   • gwindarr says

     March 29, 2009 at 12:51 pm

     I suppose I could do a video sometime for the sounds of Mandarin. Is it just the actual sound system she is having trouble with or is it tones as well?

     Reply
2. gwindarr says

   March 29, 2009 at 12:54 pm

   That might not be a bad idea. I gotta sort out this camera situation first. I’ll go check the shop tomorrow and see if they have good news for me. I suppose I could go through the sound system as well explaining how to form the sounds that people have trouble with….Hrm.

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3. Edmund says

   March 30, 2009 at 5:20 am

   That would be great. She substitutes ช for “Q” consonants. It’s not the best fit but I don’t know how else to get her to pronounce Qun, Qin, Quan, Qian.

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4. Edmund says

   March 30, 2009 at 5:24 am

   And yes, the tone system. I’ve tried to get her to understand that it’s similar to the Thai tones, not the same, but very similar.

   I’m frustrated with myself as well. I’m so familar with Mandarin but ask me to teach someone, I just don’t know where to start.

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5. Meg says

   March 30, 2009 at 2:42 pm

   OMG. Cute linguist. XD..

   Reply
   • gwindarr says

     March 30, 2009 at 6:31 pm

     Hrm. Linguist ‘eh? I used to associate that word with monolingual people who study grammar and sound systems of languages they can’t speak, but these days I suppose the other definition works out ok.

     Anyways, thanks for read/watching!

     Reply
6. gwindarr says

   April 5, 2009 at 3:19 am

   Thanks Meg.

   Reply