User Comments - bababardwan
bababardwan
Posted on: Love Tangle 1: A Suspicious Text Message
July 6, 2009 at 11:18 PMI find some vocab sticks better for various reasons.When the word is used with expression in the dialogue it really helps it stick.In this lesson the expression 莫名其妙 could stick for a number of reasons.It is part of a good line and great dialogue in general.It's a chengyu.It's an interesting word in it's own right and a cool meaning.There is an element of alliteration.I love the musical quality to the tones and the fourth tone ending.But I think the thing that may help it stick the best for me is the expression John got into the explanation of it."Ridiculous".."Baffling",hehe.Many other examples of how an expressive explanation on such words has really helped ,like in the Lao Wangs trimming the fat,the expression in explaining 好啊。Thanks for some terrific teaching John.I think the partnering of a native English teacher and a native Chinese teacher works a treat.For me it helps make the connection.Looking at how we relate to it from both sides.
Posted on: 小太监进宫
July 6, 2009 at 2:41 PMPete,
I wonder if you can clarify a couple translations from the dialogue for me.
End of B's 2nd line: 不能在路上留下一滴血！
...is translated as: "Don't let him lose a single drop of blood.
..My question relates to the use of 路上 and where it fits into the translation.Please correct me if I'm wrong,but what I thought was going on here was that they were about to castrate this poor unfortunate lad,and he was then referring to the fact that after the quick procedure,they'd have to be careful he didn't lose a single drop of blood while he was on the road going into the palace [I'm not sure if this was mainly because the procedure had been done just prior to his trip in,or if the journey itself was also a factor to consider].In B's 8th line where he says "以后的路得靠自个儿走" ,this 路 seems to me to be a more figurative road...life's journey,so I'm not sure if there is something I'm missing in the above translation.
Secondly,I interpreted:
你快来
...in D's first line,as "you quickly come".In other words I thought he was calling out for his mother to come to him.However I see it is translated as "I'm coming for you".Do you mind explaining how I should have realised that?Thanks.
Posted on: Pregnancy Series 8: About to Give Birth
July 6, 2009 at 12:07 PMhenning,
hehe,NO.Please continue. :)
Posted on: Pinyin Sections 1-2
July 6, 2009 at 10:43 AMoops,
Sorry.I've spotten wen after all,right on the line henning pointed me to.My bad.
Posted on: Pinyin Sections 1-2
July 6, 2009 at 9:58 AMbodawei,
"(I was putting on my Julius Sumner Miller voice there.) "
..就是。I can't pose such a question without having that same voice in my head.Sorry folks,it's an Aussie thing.Gotta love someone with so much passion.
Posted on: Pregnancy Series 8: About to Give Birth
July 6, 2009 at 9:27 AMshenyajin,
Thankyou.The thing is that there is rarely a problem like this so it's then hard to know for sure whether there is a glitch in that particular question,or whether I'm just getting it wrong.So it's nice to get confirmation one way or another.I don't mind the occasional glitch..I just wanna know the right answer.
Posted on: Pinyin Sections 1-2
July 6, 2009 at 9:17 AMThanks henning and john,
I've spotted them and I hear what you're saying.I was actually looking for "wen" as in 文 and still can't spot that one and I also did not think the "w" was silent in 文。
Posted on: Pregnancy Series 8: About to Give Birth
July 7, 2009 at 1:36 AMI was interested to know the 剖腹产 rate in China as according to WHO a rate below 5% tends to indicate a problem with access to medical care,and a rate above 15% tends to indicate elective/not medically indicated C sections.One would expect a higher rate in the major urban centres as opposed to rural,but I found these figures from WHO:
"Advanced health-care technologies are becoming more widely available in different regions of China. Following health-care reforms introduced in the 1990s, a large proportion of Chinese women, including those from the less-developed western region, now seek early antenatal and delivery care in health institutions. The number of caesarean-section births has increased sharply especially in the eastern region, which covers the major cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.12 Recent evidence also shows increasing demand for caesarean section among young, educated women residing in urban areas.13 Many Chinese couples now delay childbearing, aim to have not more than one birth experience and opt for delivery by caesarean section to avoid pain.13,14 Data from hospital-based studies in urban China showed rates of caesarean section of between 26% and 63% during the late 1990s.15–1812 These trends are expected to persist in view of the unparalleled economic growth and rapid expansion of private health care and health insurance systems across China. Another population-based study reported a substantial increase during the last three decades, from 4.7% to 22.5%."