Comments on: Why Chinese is so damn hard http://www.brezhnev.net/2006/06/02/68.html Mon, 07 May 2012 09:09:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://www.brezhnev.net/2006/06/02/68.html/comment-page-1#comment-8623 Andrew Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:44:35 +0000 http://www.brezhnev.net/?p=68#comment-8623 Fair enough. The issue he raises about allusions to earlier literature exists in English literature as well (most commonly with references to Shakespeare and the Bible). Still, I get the impression that classical Chinese takes this to an entirely different level and presupposes a great deal more knowledge. I will not disagree that English is hard. I would hate to learn it as a second language. Given its many parents, it's not surprising that it's full of inconsistencies. "English is a crazy language" is actually the introduction of a book called "Crazy English" that I loved when I was growing up. Thanks for your comment, and for reminding me of a fun book! Fair enough. The issue he raises about allusions to earlier literature exists in English literature as well (most commonly with references to Shakespeare and the Bible). Still, I get the impression that classical Chinese takes this to an entirely different level and presupposes a great deal more knowledge.

I will not disagree that English is hard. I would hate to learn it as a second language. Given its many parents, it’s not surprising that it’s full of inconsistencies.

“English is a crazy language” is actually the introduction of a book called “Crazy English” that I loved when I was growing up. Thanks for your comment, and for reminding me of a fun book!

]]> By: Lee http://www.brezhnev.net/2006/06/02/68.html/comment-page-1#comment-8620 Lee Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:29:43 +0000 http://www.brezhnev.net/?p=68#comment-8620 "A passage in classical Chinese can be understood only if you already know what the passage says in the first place. " That statement is just totally untrue. Well, I agree Classic Chinese is damn hard,(But why learn it? Since nobody use it anymore.) Classic Chinese does take a long time even for sinologists to understand the full meaning of a sentence. And Modern Chinese is just EASY compare to English, no grammer, no plural or non-plurals, no present or past tense difference, no -ing, no -ly, no loopy and wiggy tongues. Only thing is hard is to memorize the characters, but since Mao's cultural revolution have banished most of the hard, complex ones. Go find an article called "English is a crazy language." “A passage in classical Chinese can be understood only if you already know what the passage says in the first place. ”

That statement is just totally untrue.

Well, I agree Classic Chinese is damn hard,(But why learn it? Since nobody use it anymore.) Classic Chinese does take a long time even for sinologists to understand the full meaning of a sentence.

And Modern Chinese is just EASY compare to English, no grammer, no plural or non-plurals, no present or past tense difference, no -ing, no -ly, no loopy and wiggy tongues. Only thing is hard is to memorize the characters, but since Mao’s cultural revolution have banished most of the hard, complex ones.

Go find an article called “English is a crazy language.”

]]> By: Andrew http://www.brezhnev.net/2006/06/02/68.html/comment-page-1#comment-132 Andrew Sun, 11 Jun 2006 10:38:22 +0000 http://www.brezhnev.net/?p=68#comment-132 It's not always that frustrating, but it's comforting to know that when I'm suffering at least I'm not alone! All's well here, hope you are, too. It’s not always that frustrating, but it’s comforting to know that when I’m suffering at least I’m not alone! All’s well here, hope you are, too.

]]> By: Andrew A. http://www.brezhnev.net/2006/06/02/68.html/comment-page-1#comment-129 Andrew A. Wed, 07 Jun 2006 21:05:47 +0000 http://www.brezhnev.net/?p=68#comment-129 Good luck. Sounds like a lesson in frustration! Hope all is well with you. A. Good luck. Sounds like a lesson in frustration! Hope all is well with you.
A.

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