| Just bought Wenlin software for my PC | |
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| Sep 20, 2006 13:31 |   |
 | After fiddlin' with Pinyin which my friends in China either cannot read or do not like to read, I purchased Wenlin software. It is similar to Pleco which I use on my Palm TX. Wenlin is much easier to use because of the full computer interface. In fact, I wrote my first email using Chinese characters this morning in half the time it took to write a similar letter in Pinyin. So why learn Pinyin when Chinese characters are the real thing? Is Pinyin's true function allowing Westerners to learn pronunciation? |
| Sep 20, 2006 22:12 | #1 |
| That's nice and good for you. Actually there is a more effective shortcut to learning Chinese fast. |
| Sep 21, 2006 17:10 | #2 |
| (In my best Cagney impression) Okay Pinetree - give it up! What's 'da shortcut to learning Chinese? |
| Sep 21, 2006 20:57 | #3 |
| Well, it is said that the most effective way to learn a language is to regularly savour the saliva of a gal speaking that language. Your knowledge of that language will improve in leaps & bounds. Try it. I think it works. Hahahaa !! |
| Sep 22, 2006 04:18 | #4 |
| what about a boy's saliva pinetree ???????? ;) Griz... an American friend of mine just introduced me to Pimsleur Comprehensive Chinese. Do you know it ? I've got in on my mp3 player now and can happily wander around talking to myself on campus :) I think it's pretty authentic. |
| Sep 22, 2006 04:28 | #5 |
| If you don't learn pinyin you can't easily send text mesages or use a computer (for Chinese and non-Chinese alike). Pinyin helps us westerner's with our Roman alphabet to learn the pronunciation. It is impossible for a beginner (and a not-so beginner)to look at a Chinese character and know how it is pronounced. Sadly, it's also impossible to look at pinyin and know how the word is written in Mandarin. There is no connection between the two except for the sound! A vicious circle. I've heard it said that it's better to never learn pinyin. |
| Sep 22, 2006 10:41 | #6 |
| I purchased Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Levels I, II, III. There are 90 lessons in all. I am on the second lesson. Each lesson is taking me about 3-4 days to master...so far. I know the Pimsleur training is packaged in many different ways. The full course I am using is supposed to teach/give you basic Chinese speech and about a 2000 word vocabulary. I've read that a 2k vocabulary makes a person functional in just about any language. |
| Sep 24, 2006 11:43 | #7 |
| Kids learn pinyin in school here to help them learn Chinese..presumably to give a phonetic text to go with sounds. So it certainly does seem to have a purpose...but why were some of the letters chosen? They are very confusing when compared to anglo usage of the letters and combinations. I wish I could learn as easily as you Griz and I have been here a year. I have tried to learn phrases, but as I cannot produce some of the almost identical sounds and at the same time cannot master the tones, no-one ever understands me. I have found it easier to go to the fridge and get a cold beer for myslef than ask for bing pijiu (especially when half the time it is so un bing you are better off drinking tea!) But some of my friends succeed, so maybe I ain't trying hard enough! |
| Sep 24, 2006 11:43 | #8 |
| Kids learn pinyin in school here to help them learn Chinese..presumably to give a phonetic text to go with sounds. So it certainly does seem to have a purpose...but why were some of the letters chosen? They are very confusing when compared to anglo usage of the letters and combinations. I wish I could learn as easily as you Griz and I have been here a year. I have tried to learn phrases, but as I cannot produce some of the almost identical sounds and at the same time cannot master the tones, no-one ever understands me. I have found it easier to go to the fridge and get a cold beer for myslef than ask for bing pijiu (especially when half the time it is so un bing you are better off drinking tea!) But some of my friends succeed, so maybe I ain't trying hard enough! |
| Sep 24, 2006 13:17 | #9 |
| In my belief, Apault, a person can achieve anything they desire if they are willing to dedicate the personal effort required. ...but one must have a proper motivation to exert such effort. Perhaps all you require is a beautiful young woman to deliver the beer to you when you speak to her in Chinese. ;) |
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