units 3-5

[mvrdrk]

Read and re-read units 3-5 today.

Vocabulary words from Unit 2: 谷, 幽

Unit 3
action verbs, adverbs, adverbials
Favorite quote: “Why this constant reference to English? … adults can acquire a rapid grasp of another written language most effectively by working from the known to the unknown” Ah ha ha ha! It’s the references to English that kill me. The Chinese grammar is easy in comparison.

Unit 4
2 types of 5 word lines: longer clauses, and two short clauses and their relation
Vocabulary words from Unit 4: 啼, 暁, 嘯, 亦
Factoids: Chinese poetry of 5 word lines is usually read xx xxx, the exceptions being Sung dynasty song-style verse and Tang dynasty for special effects.
The relation between the two and three words chunks is commonly (but not exhaustively): and, but, and then, when, with the result that, for.
Favorite quote: “It is left to the reader … to determine what exactly the relationship between two clauses is.” LOL! Reminds me of my old math and engineering texts!

Unit 5
expressions of place and action-verbs qualifying nouns
Vocabulary words from Unit 5: 浮, 篁, 眠
The notes on the vocabulary of this unit are fabulously intriguing! Barnes states that 河 typically refers to 黃河, the Yellow River, hence home ground, 江 to the 長江, Yangtze, hence far away/exile/wild territory. All the major lakes in China are south of the 長江 so 湖 has the same connotations as 江. It all makes hilarious sense to me, given that explanation, when I think of 武俠’s 江湖.

Barnes also says

“江 is a southern (Thai) word, for it comes from Old Chinese *klong, which is similar to the the Thai khloong ‘canal’.”

Cool beans! I wonder how does Thai relate to southern Old Chinese and does he mean old Chinese Cantonese or Shanghainese or something entirely different?

Comments

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Barnes states that 河 typically refers to 黃河, the Yellow River, hence home ground, 江 to the 長江, Yangtze, hence far away/exile/wild territory

Ha! Never knew that. Ove rhere, the Yangtze is *the* river, and the Yellow Rive ris uhh where's that again?

[mvrdrk.livejournal.com]

I never knew either! But looking at history books confirms this. Most of the early central Chinese capitals were along the Yellow River. The Yangtze is that far away swamp with malarial fever and other delights.