CHINACHINA

A Poo Poo Platter A Poo Poo Platter of Informationof Information

Pictographs & IdeographsPictographs & IdeographsMandarin has over 50,000 Mandarin has over 50,000

characters!characters!

Sun (a circle)Sun (a circle)

Moon (crescent)Moon (crescent)

BrightBright

Do Chinese people Do Chinese people speak “Chinese”?speak “Chinese”?

?????????? NO!!! In NO!!! In

China there China there are many are many languages but languages but they all use they all use the same the same characterscharacters

For Example…For Example…English Character Mandarin Cantonese

Hello 喂 Ni Hao Nei Ho

Goodbye 再見 Dzai Jyan Joi Gin

Thank you 唔該 Shyeh Shyeh m’ goi

Pardon Me 對唔住 Dway Bu Chee Deui m jyu

Please 請 Qing Cheng

You’re Welcome 唔使 Bu Ke Qi M’ Sai

I don’t understand 我唔明白 wo bu li jie Ngo m ming bak

Helpful Phrases in Helpful Phrases in MandarinMandarin

Tzuh swuh tzai nah = I need a toilet Ming tien tien = Goodbye (used like “see ya!”) Ju nee, yo yee guh. How duh, jo mua =

Have a good weekend! Wuh (ai / see wuh) nee = I (love / like) you Mah fah nee = Excuse me Wuh duh mai uh = Oh my gosh! Tai gway luh = That’s too expensive May joe, tsuh shu(r) = Weekly Team Quiz Day Shing nyen kwai luh = Happy New Year!!!

Mandarin (#1) vs. Mandarin (#1) vs. Cantonese (#2)Cantonese (#2) Mandarin is Mandarin is

language of the language of the majority & the majority & the capital Beijing…capital Beijing…

Cantonese is the Cantonese is the language of the language of the south and most south and most immigrants to US.immigrants to US. (most US Chinese (most US Chinese

food is Cantonese food is Cantonese inspired fusion)inspired fusion)

A Small Twist:A Small Twist:Wade-Giles vs. Wade-Giles vs.

PinyinPinyin How does a European say How does a European say

““ 唔該““ ? = Wade-Giles? = Wade-Giles Transliterate the sound into

the closest English sound (“shyeh shyeh” = “thank you”)

Mao didn’t feel W-G Mao didn’t feel W-G reflected well, ordered Pinyin reflected well, ordered Pinyin created in 1960’s created in 1960’s (Uses x & q (Uses x & q instead of t’ j’ and ch’)instead of t’ j’ and ch’)

Linguistic and Linguistic and Ethnic Ethnic diversitydiversity

Wei People & Wei People & the Yellow the Yellow RiverRiver

Broad Plains Broad Plains around Huang Ho around Huang Ho (Yellow River)(Yellow River)Flooding Flooding , ,

Loess Loess & the & the Wei PeopleWei People

“China’s Sorrow”

The Superhighway of The Superhighway of ChinaChina Wei people then Wei people then

conquered south conquered south to Yangtze River to Yangtze River Navigable to Navigable to

Qongching & Qongching & beyond with 3 beyond with 3 Gorges Dam!Gorges Dam!

The Xi (Pearl), The Last to The Xi (Pearl), The Last to FallFall South China is South China is

mountainousmountainousEffects on Effects on

language & language & politics?politics?Harder to Harder to conquer & uniteconquer & unite

Scenic GuilinScenic GuilinCormorant fishing on the Li River

China under the WeiChina under the Wei“Chung Kuo”“Chung Kuo”

Call selves “Chung Call selves “Chung Kuo”, or the Middle Kuo”, or the Middle Kingdom, the Kingdom, the center of the world.center of the world.

Emperor is THE Emperor is THE source of culture source of culture and civilization…and civilization…