| Mandarin Chinese is an interesting language. Partly | | | | perfectly capable of learning how to speak |
| because of it's formidable reputation as a "hard" | | | | Chinese, provided you take the right approach. |
| or nigh on "impossible" language to learn for us | | | | Remember I said the second thing we native |
| native Enlish speakers. What I'd like to do in this | | | | English speakers find hard about learning how to |
| article is dispel some of the misnomers and | | | | speak Chinese is Chinese characters: the written |
| mistruths surrounding learning to speak Chinese... | | | | system? Well you need not fear here either. |
| There are two main aspects of the Chinese | | | | There are literally thousands of Chinese |
| language that scare most would be students: | | | | characters, all with different meanings, though only |
| tones & characters. | | | | a relatively small amount are used in daily |
| Let's take a look at the first. Yes, Chinese has | | | | conversation. |
| four tones. These tones affect the meaning of | | | | Just as in English, the native Chinese speaker |
| words. If you mess up your tones you say | | | | communicates wants, needs and basic thoughts in |
| something completely different from what you | | | | basic language, and day-to-day Chinese is more |
| planned. For example, ma, ma & ma, | | | | direct and basic than our mother tongue. The |
| depending on the tone could mean "?", mother or | | | | secret to leaning Characters easily is to take a |
| horse.... or a host of other words. | | | | natural approach. |
| Now you don't want to go calling your mother a | | | | Namely, don't try to run before you can walk, or |
| horse or a horse your mother, though the | | | | walk before you can crawl. This translates into |
| Chinese language newbie need not fret. Tones | | | | putting your emphasis on listening and speaking |
| really aren't as hard as you first think. Let me ask | | | | ahead of reading and writing. Learn the characters |
| you a question: | | | | for words you can use in conversation. NEVER |
| Can you hum a tune? Do you sing in the shower, | | | | the other way around! |
| or sing along to the radio while driving in your car? | | | | Trying to read and write ahead of listening and |
| If the answer is yes, then you can learn Chinese | | | | speaking is the fast way to boredom and |
| tones. | | | | frustration. |
| The reason people think they are so hard is | | | | To wrap up; if you want to learn how to speak |
| because no-one knows how to teach them well. | | | | Chinese, then don't go about it the wrong way. |
| Native Chinese speakers learn their tones through | | | | Do put your emphasis on learning the natural way: |
| mimicry as kids. As such, they've never had to | | | | listening and speaking ahead of reading and writing. |
| actively "learn" tones, much in the same way as | | | | Finally, don't be scared by tones. If you can hum, |
| we've never had to actively learn basic English. | | | | you can learn how to speak Chinese. |
| We "do" English rather than "learn" English. | | | | Thanks for listening. I have lots more to add on |
| So, if you're able to hum a simple tune, you are | | | | these topics, so stay tuned! |