Strangely enough…
Posted in China, Curiosity, Language, Travel on Apr 11th, 2007 2 Comments »
The oddest thing about being here in China this time….
…..is that it does not [...]
Archive for the 'Language' Category
Back through the Dragon Gate
Posted in China, Language, Travel on Apr 9th, 2007 No Comments »
Language evaporates faster than last night’s dream. My ears still wring meaning out the sounds of Chinese, but it is as if I am speaking through a mouth filled with cold oatmeal. The muscles that move the tongue in Chinese have gone bedriddenly weak.
I can not imagine what it is like to be Shanghaiese. They [...]
Chinese is not for sissies
Posted in Curiosity, Language on Mar 21st, 2007 No Comments »
My friend Ronnie in Taiwan has been there learning Chinese for a year and half now. As I recall, having lived there long enough to know how the seasons turn through the years, after a period of time, you begin to realize just what you have gotten yourself into. Ronnie has it right:
A year and [...]
Translation
Posted in Curiosity, Language, Translation on Dec 15th, 2006 No Comments »
Reading and translation are two completely different skills.
.
If only translation were as easy as the multiple choice test of ordering off a Chinese menu.
As simple as translating words, and having the grammar and meaning neatly tag along.
As logical as math with it’s A+B=C.
No….translation is not just about words, it’s about how you string all together [...]
不滿意就是進步
Posted in Language, Taiwan, Travel on Nov 10th, 2006 No Comments »
真的是一件很讓我覺得挫折感的事。
聽到特標準的中文。
感覺到其特殊的口味， 跟英文完全不同的語法。
呼吸中文的旋律及節奏引起我的思想和說法變成一個中國影響的世界。
但是開口為說話的時候， 所有的字都發錯了。
因為長期的習慣和腦子裡還思考的是英文。
可能我越覺得不滿足， 我的中文越好。
因為我知道錯就是在那裡。
當然也有特快樂的片刻。
有的時候， 語言及字沒有什麼障礙。
能流利說話， 像一條從山上的小溪咕咕嘟嘟快樂的聲音一樣。
Translation
Posted in China, Language, Travel on Sep 27th, 2006 2 Comments »
In China, this sign basically translates as “clean bathrooms, with soap in the dispenser”
I’m lovin’ it!
Language and communication…
Posted in China, Language, Travel on Sep 26th, 2006 No Comments »
… are not to be confused as the same thing.
I get it.
Every day.
With almost every conversation.
The question that always gets asked.
What country are you from?
It is the rare Chinese person that does not ask after the fountain of praise, from hearing 3 words of Chinese come out of my mouth.
I must hear this question at [...]