Language festival Nanjing (with Chinese dialects / languages) (with 3 days of Chinese dialects)
chanelle77
June 06, 2010 at 02:50 AM posted in General DiscussionStarting next week, there will be an international language festival at Nanjing University (南大) from June 9- 13th. They offer many free classes on Chinese and other languages. Maybe some of you are also interested, so here is more info:
http://www.njulx.cn/d179
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_festival
http://www.china.org.cn/international/cultural_sidelines/2008-05/12/content_15170770.htm
I'm particularly interested in the Chinese dialects and minority languages, which will be held in the evenings from June 9-11. According to the organization, the finite schedule will be published on Monday. Classes include Tibetan, bone scripts etc... If I have more info (I'm planning to go), I can post it here if anyone is interested :-).
chanelle77
June 16, 2010 at 02:16 AM
Well, that would certainly explain the "cannot miss" neon light lit crucifix :-) or maybe the owners are just artsy fartsy...
chanelle77
June 16, 2010 at 02:03 AM
Yes, I agree with you! One of the most interesting places I have seen lately. I do not understand how I managed to find this place after more than 2 years in Nanjing!
JasonSch
June 16, 2010 at 02:03 AM
That's a great bookstore! I've bought many a book from that place. I think the last thing I bought from there was my Chinese/English, 'The Old Man and the Sea'.
Interestingly, I think that bookstore is run by a Christian organization/family.
changye
June 16, 2010 at 01:58 AM
"A city is not a real city until it has a good bookshop. A city can be judged by its bookshops."
I love the sentence shown at the top of the web page you introduced. I believe that the "bookshops" off course include second-hand bookshops.
chanelle77
June 16, 2010 at 01:01 AM
Changye, I am sorry to report that I was not able to go there myself as their schedule clashed with my uni classes (I have exams next week and needed to be there). However, my friends visited and one did a lecture on her native languages and said she were very impressed about the organization, content and the diversity. So I really have to go next time.
Last week I thought about you when I was visiting Libraire Avant-garde in Nanjing. If you ever make it to Nanjing this is a must see for Chinese book lovers. They had quite a section on classic Chinese. And, I think the books are not mainstream. However I need to go back when I have more time to check out the etymology classical Chinese section.
http://community.travelchinaguide.com/review2.asp?i=749
chanelle77
June 06, 2010 at 03:46 AM
Changye,
You are most welcome to come over and go with me! Welcome to stay here with us if you like anytime!
Yes,the bone scripture classes are the ones that particularly interest me (hope not too much introductions, because I read about that already quite a lot). I will make pictures if they have 甲骨文 replicas.
As for transport: I will take the newly opened Metro line (2) or ask my driver :-). Still bit scared to drive in the city centre hahah! I drove to Hangzhou though (when went back home 2 weeks ago)! We drove with the 3 of us and took turns. Our driver could not stop laughing when I was driving and he was sitting in the back. Think he was a bit scared hahaha: great fun! (btw. there is a new flight from Hangzhou to Amsterdam and this is a nice alternative to Shanghai in terms of time / money).
chanelle77
June 06, 2010 at 02:18 PM
Great, I will order this book! Sounds fascinating, thank you for mentioning it! I will do my best to make picture / report if possible :-)
changye
June 06, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Hi chanelle77
I look forward to seeing some photos of the festival, including replicas of bone scripts, and reading your report!
I recently bought a very good primer on 甲骨文. It's easy to read but very comprehensive. One of the best characteristics of the book is that the author explains in detail how to read sentences written with oracle bone scripts.
There are a lot of books sold in China that show you how to read oracle bone characters, but they usually don't explain how to read/translate oracles themselves. This is the best book on 甲骨文 I've ever seen here in China.
《图说殷墟甲骨文》 韩鉴堂 (文物出版社 2009) 28元
http://www.bookuu.com/kgsm/ts/2010/02/07/1677727.shtml
changye
June 06, 2010 at 03:16 AM
Hi chanelle77
The festival seems to be just amazing. I wish I were in Nanjing. Why don't you attend the bone-script classes? I'm sure you would find them very interesting and easy to understand. Probably you can see some replicas of 甲骨文 in the classes, which I've never seen yet. Incidentally, will you drive to the uni?
changye
June 14, 2010 at 12:58 PMHi chanelle77
How was the language festival?