Firefly Chinese

[darkemeralds]

Last week in Mandarin class, one of the things we learned was that ma stuck on the end of certain sentences turns them into questions (it's an interrogative particle! woo hoo!).

Tonight, Tián, our teacher, introduced the word dǒng, "understand." It sounded familiar. It took a second, but suddenly I could hear Jayne saying dǒng ma? and I felt that wonderful little light bulb come on. Dǒng ma?. "Understand?" or "Get it?"

Then we had some consonant-verb sound combination drills, among them, "shuai," and I was all "Ooh! Ooh-ooh! I know that! That means 'handsome'!" Totally picturing Simon.

Call me geeky (you wouldn't be alone), but that right there? Kind of a thrill.

Also, can I just say that the last time I began learning a brand new language was before the Internet was a gleam in Al Gore's eye, and that it's amazing the free resources that are out there to help me along. What a wonderful world.

Comments

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I love to see you having fun! *G*

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

Just stay off the swear words!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

I suspect that we're inadvertently saying all sorts of nasty things by mispronunciation. Tian gets a look on her face sometimes that suggests such a possibility.

[str8ontilmornin.livejournal.com]

Remember, 'Geeky' helps memory. That spike in 'handsome' adrenaline is going to cement all this new language info, then you'll be teaching us soon!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

You are so right! "State-dependent learning," I believe that's called. Memory is definitely enhanced by pretty images of Dr. Tam.