This is an introductory book about the history and contemporary usage of the Chinese language.
Chinese is generally considered a difficult language. It is also a fascinating and important language that cannot be ignored. A growing number of English speakers are learning the Chinese language to the enrichment of their lives and the admiration of their friends. Chinese does, however, present a number of challenges. Written Chinese looks like a random set of stroke, dots and dashes. In its handwritten form it looks like a series of undifferentiated squiggles. Spoken Chinese sounds like a rapid series of almost identical monosyllables with rising and falling intonations.
This book is a contemporary introduction to the modern Chinese language as it is used in China during the first few years of the twenty–first century. China has changed so much and so dramatically over the past century, and indeed over the past twenty years, and these changes are reflected in the language. Textbooks written only twenty years ago are now quite quant. Much information on the actual use of putonghua , the use of dialects or various romanization systems is now out of date. The aim of this book is to present current realities. China is a country with a long history, and to understand modern China we must know something of its past. The same applies to the language. Earlier stages of Chinese still have a deep influences on the current language, and we should at least be aware of such influences.
This book is not a language textbook. It does not try to teach Chinese. It is a book about Chinese. It has been written for people who are thinking of taking up Chinese and would like some insights into what they are letting themselves in for. As the Chinese strategist Sunzi said, " zhi ji zhi bi, bai zhan bai sheng. "—"Know yourself and know the other: a hundred battles, a hundred victories." The same apples to learning Chinese.

Daniel Kane

North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle

United States, United States of America

First Edition, PT, 2006

September 30, 2006

Tokyo, ©2006

192 pages : 24 cm
The Chinese Language is a brief introduction to the main characteristics of Chinese, written to be accessible to beginning students as well as anyone with a general interest in Chinese language and culture. Not a language-learning title as such, The Chinese Language provides a demystifying overview of Chinese from a linguistic, historical and social perspective. Providing basic information such as where Chinese is spoken, the history and earliest written records, regional variations, and a description of the writing system, The Chinese Language provides an excellent starting point for anyone intrigued by the history and basics of Chinese language
Includes bibliographical references (pages 185-192)

<p><i>The Chinese Language</i> is a brief introduction to the main characteristics of Chinese, written to be accessible to beginning students as well as anyone with a general interest in Chinese language and culture. Not a language-learning title as such, <i>The Chinese Language</i> provides a demystifying overview of Chinese from a linguistic, historical and social perspective. Providing basic information such as where Chinese is spoken, the history and earliest written records, regional variations, and a description of the writing system, <i>The Chinese Language</i> provides an excellent starting point for anyone intrigued by the history and basics of Chinese language.</p>

The U.S. Senate recently proposed the U.S.-China Cultural Engagement Act, a $1.3 billion initiative to provide Chinese language and culture instruction in American schools

2023-06-28