User Comments - henning
henning
Posted on: Podcast Language 2
June 3, 2009 at 5:36 PMmickeytoon,
background: These are numbers based on full-time courses for experienced language learners.
And by excluding written language, well, they are excluding the biggest chunk of the fun.
Posted on: Why are You Studying Chinese?
June 3, 2009 at 5:30 PMAfter reading through all of this, I think my own motivation is closest to calkin's. I started (reluctantly) because of my wife, but soon this became an end in itsself. I am definately not a language buff.
When does this hobby count as being pathological?
Posted on: Why are You Studying Chinese?
June 2, 2009 at 4:42 PMcalkins,
I like that plot: Betraying one's partner with his or her own native language. Could make a good novel.
sebire:
first price for the most concise and compelling argument!
Posted on: Buying a House
May 31, 2009 at 6:35 PMzhenlijiang,
I checked KWX and found it OK to use.
Posted on: Buying a House
May 31, 2009 at 9:11 AMchangye, shenyajin, zhenlijiang,
thanks for the explanations...
I am sure, though, that even innocent Chinese are not fully immune to the imagery evoked by the literal meaning of those characters. Irregardless of the objective etymology.
Changye: Don't summon the darkness of my imaginary power :P [KWX]
Posted on: Introducing Shen Yajin (Helen)
May 31, 2009 at 6:00 AMshenyajin,
curious: are you the same Helen who appeared in those very early Advanced lessons - before Aggie came?
Pete,
we definately need our dose of Pete content here. History, etymology, poetry, whatever.
Posted on: Buying a House
May 30, 2009 at 6:18 AMAm I the only one here who thinks that the term 光棍儿 is...a little direct?
Posted on: Tea Tasting
May 28, 2009 at 10:41 AMI remember opening my 菊花茶-box once and the "leaves" inside were all...moving. It was a rather facinating sight - all contents had turned into those tiny worms. There was not a single real tea leaf left.
Rayao: I couldn't agree more. I was totally disappointed by that Action Movie. In "my" Starfleet you are not promoted to a Captain's position by behaving like a total jerk.But for comfort: It had an uneven number.
Posted on: 易中天《读城记》
May 26, 2009 at 10:35 AMlujiaojie,
多谢！
Posted on: Podcast Language 2
June 4, 2009 at 6:55 AMMatt,
I disagree. Just think of those guys climbing up the Mount Everest - would it be the same fun for them if they thought the mountain was "more or less like any other hill out there"? It needs to be 3 times as high as any other mountain out there in the solar system. And it only gets even better if they invent some creepy yetis.
This is most definately the most difficult languge ever. Simply unsurmountable. The route is foggy and dangerous, with the remains (old posts) of those who have not made it paving your way ahead. And beware, on your trip you will encounter indescribable and bizzare obstacles (古文 leftovers, Tang poetry, a gazillion chengyus, obscure dialects). Rumour has it you have to move to a monestary to truely master it. You made it to the Intermediate base camp? Oh, that one can still be done without oxygen mask...