User Comments - henning
henning
Posted on: To Love or Be Loved
February 17, 2008 at 8:58 AMIn the west this discussion is so rare because an unilateral relationship is considered unaccaptable. It is assumed that in a "normal" relationship love and burden are shared equally. If that is always the case is of course a different matter. So is the nature of values. They relfect ideals rather than reality. China however, as the intro already suggests, appears to be the realm of unrestrained Darwinistic pragmatism where being in love is a nice-to-have. What counts is the discounted, long-term Geneholder Value (GHV).
Posted on: I Have Class
February 16, 2008 at 9:59 AM"Temporal noun" sound like "Static Verb" to me. Helpless grammatical categories that try to hunt down those hermaphrodite words that behave like chameleons and take several roles in one. Isn't it so that all those naughty words defy all attempts to construct an "Universal Grammar" with concepts like "verb" or "adjective" that are conceived to be generic and stable across our galaxy? Welcome in Chinese language fairyland, where the wondering never stops.
Posted on: I Have Class
February 16, 2008 at 8:51 AMThe more I think about it the more I become convinced that Chinese Grammar behaves very much like China and Chinese culture...
Posted on: I Have Class
February 16, 2008 at 8:40 AMChinese beginners: I definately recommmend not trying to look out for definite rules and reasons - you might get answers such as Changye's above. My advice: Take phrases and sentences as units. Follow Ken's preachings about lexical chunks. Believe in the osmosis - it works. For me, grammar became really helpful as soon as I was comfortable with the Intermediate level. Chinese grammar is too fuzzy, too messy, and way too much tainted with execptions and idiomatic expressions to guide a Newbie. I hate giving such recommendations because it goes against my very basic orientation and beliefes. I am not the "to ask too many questions" type of person. But to start with Chinese, well, this is sort of the only option.
Posted on: 南海一号
February 15, 2008 at 10:31 PM我觉得这部录音的版本是读得特别精彩的， 特别清楚， 一些看文章的时侯不懂的句子一听就明白了。 谢谢！
Posted on: Even you can use the (连...都...) pattern
February 15, 2008 at 9:53 AMJohn, yes, thank you. Perfect!
Posted on: Scams and Bus Culture
February 15, 2008 at 8:57 AMThanks a lot Amber! I have never been aware this is a pattern. Definately another potential QW... Apropos QW: As CNY ate up this week's QW, do we get 2 next week? (am I being greedy again?)
Posted on: Finding One's seat
February 15, 2008 at 6:45 AMchangye, aert, I once read that the grammatical genders in European languages (der, die and das in German) are actually degenerated measure words (?).
Posted on: Even you can use the (连...都...) pattern
February 15, 2008 at 6:40 AMIn the Media lesson with the MLK speech there is a sentence that combines 连...也 and 甚至: 甚至连密西西比州这个正义匿迹，压迫成风，如同沙漠般的地方，也将变成自由和正义的绿洲。 http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E9%A9%AC%E4%B8%81%C2%B7-%E8%B7%AF%E5%BE%B7-%C2%B7-%E9%87%91/ @John老师: 请问: Are Xiaohus deductions regarding the differences between 甚至 and 连 officially the correct solution?
Posted on: To Love or Be Loved
February 17, 2008 at 10:30 AMBack to the language: The translation given for 自虐狂 is "sucker for punishment" (?). Is 自虐狂 also "masochist"?