User Comments - Lantian
Lantian
Posted on: Please Speak Chinese
August 22, 2007 at 8:48 AMCHANGES - I don't think that simply repeating over and over always works. In fact it's often a waste of time. Learning and changing one's pronunciation takes many approaches. Find what works for you. 我不觉得只说多次是一定最好的方法。每个人的合适的方法和问题不一样。自己查一下合适的练法最好。是我一个人的想法。
Posted on: Pushy Insurance Salesman
August 22, 2007 at 8:42 AMCLAIMS - I know an easy way to make him hangup, "我有病了“
Posted on: Trouble with Grades
August 21, 2007 at 6:06 AMHi Mike, 1. If you're hot and confused, maybe it's menopause. ;p 2. At least in Tokyo, you can go to the 7-Eleven and choose from about a thousand varieties of ice cream and drinks! 3. 考 as it's placed in this sentence is definitely a verb, I'd say your little formula applies. IMO
Posted on: Negotiating Price and Payment Terms
August 21, 2007 at 3:34 AM哪有那么凶的加拿大人？;p Here would be my response: 李经理，你不能随便偷偷改价格。如果你们的公司这样子做工，我没办发，我要去叫那另外公司，他们的价格比你们地百分之十，而且好像比你们认真又不能不讲信用！ Then I would hangup, aka do the ”walkaway." :)
Posted on: I didn’t bring my umbrella
August 14, 2007 at 3:26 PM今天又下大雨了。
Posted on: Asking for English Books
August 11, 2007 at 4:47 AMHi John and Maxiwawa, About the 'ng'. When I read Maxiwawa's example of 新, 星, it resembled similar problems I have with the sound. My particular nemisis is 应为 vs 以为 (ying wei vs yi wei). Previously, I had attributed it to the influence of English, or rather the inability of an English ear to 'hear' that particular sound with as much distinction as a Chinese "ear". However, when MW mentioned the added factor of his having learned the words as a youngster, it made me wonder. Is there an influence of dialect on the sound, or is it still the English? (I think MW speaks that weird British English kind of English ;p） As I am living in the southern part of China I find it fascinating that some locals do not pronounce certain putonghua sounds well, for example they seem incapable of saying/hearing? the "sh" in "shi" and will say "si", or instead of "shu" say "su". This being when they speak 'putonghua', not their dialect. I think even the Beijing dialect doesn't particularly like that sound, the n or ng, hence the use of "war/玩 儿" instead of "wan". The "ng" seems to be a distinctly putonghua sound, is that right? Is it somewhat a linguistic artificial constructed sound? In which province is that sound most clearly matching the currently accepted biaozhun CCTV standard?
Posted on: Asking for English Books
August 10, 2007 at 5:38 AMHi Rich, I think this must reflect your generosity. 别小气 was one of the early phrases said to me over and over and over. LOL
Posted on: #11
August 10, 2007 at 4:04 AMHMPHH - Well, I guessed Love In The Afternoon. I would never wake up in time for Breakfast At Tiffany's. Congratulations Lunetta, which prize are you going to choose?! :)
Posted on: #11
August 8, 2007 at 5:23 PMDespite Dave's Love not being offered in this episode, I still am eagerly awaiting the answer in the afternoon. ;p
Posted on: Volleyball
August 26, 2007 at 12:42 AMSET ... - I have noticed while watching Chinese sports t.v. that their English translation of 塞球 sai qiu, set ball, is actually what we in English would say is "Set point." (Especially in tennis) I wonder if they'll catch that before the Olympics?