Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin (Non-Classics) (1971), Paperback, 192 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member aulsmith
Written for the Westerner who is interested in Chinese, but not necessarily wanting to learn it,. This book tries to introduce some of the complexities of Chinese for an Indo-European language speaker without getting into technical linguistic detail.
Unfortunately for me, I've actually had a few
Bottom line: If you know a lot about linguistics, this is probably not the introduction to Chinese that you want.
Unfortunately for me, I've actually had a few
Show More
courses in linguistics and the convoluted ways the author used to explain things that are fairly straight-forward if you have linguistics background, drove me nuts and I wasn't able to finish the book.Bottom line: If you know a lot about linguistics, this is probably not the introduction to Chinese that you want.
Show Less
LibraryThing member edwinbcn
"About Chinese" by Richard Newnham belongs to the best introductions to the Chinese language. The book is particularly useful to people who want to gain some insight into the Chinese language before deciding whether or not to learn Chinese.
The book is written in an accessible style, introducing
The biggest disadvantage of the book is that the publisher did not have or use Chinese fonts to print Chinese characters. All Chinese characters, both simplified and traditional Chinese characters are drawn in pen hand writing. While the pen writings are drawn to resemble print (it isn't Chinese normal handwriting), these representations of Chinese characters are not as clear as print. On the other hand, readers might try to write and come close to such written characters, which they would never if they were presented with printed form of characters only.
The book is written in an accessible style, introducing
Show More
many facts about the Chinese language often omitted in books used to learn Chinese, such as the difference between written language and the vernacular. Knowledge of general linguistics may make reading of the book more interesting, but is nor required. For beginning learners there are explanations of basic principles of word morphology and grammar. The biggest disadvantage of the book is that the publisher did not have or use Chinese fonts to print Chinese characters. All Chinese characters, both simplified and traditional Chinese characters are drawn in pen hand writing. While the pen writings are drawn to resemble print (it isn't Chinese normal handwriting), these representations of Chinese characters are not as clear as print. On the other hand, readers might try to write and come close to such written characters, which they would never if they were presented with printed form of characters only.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Physical description
192 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0140211314 / 9780140211313