Chinese Language and Phonetic Transcription
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Questions and Answers

Which variety of Chinese is considered to be mainly spoken in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces?

  • Yuè (correct)
  • Hakka
  • Xiāng
  • Mĭn Nán
  • What is the estimated number of speakers of Mĭn Nán?

  • 25 million
  • 20.5 million
  • 66 million
  • 45 million (correct)
  • Which dialect is recognized as a separate variety rather than a dialect of Mandarin?

  • Mín Dōng
  • Jinyu (correct)
  • Huīzhōu
  • Mín Bĕi
  • Which dialect is primarily spoken by the Muslim Hui people?

    <p>Dungan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which dialect is spoken by about 10.3 million people primarily in Northern Fujian Province?

    <p>Mín Bĕi</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary script used by Dungan speakers?

    <p>Cyrillic alphabet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following languages is NOT considered a dialect of Chinese?

    <p>Japanese</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which dialect is primarily spoken in the Hunan province and has about 25 million speakers?

    <p>Xiāng</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the new written form of Chinese known as?

    <p>báihùa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which variety of Chinese was chosen as the basis for the new transcription systems?

    <p>Mandarin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary use of Zhuyin Fuhao?

    <p>To denote Taiwanese pronunciation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a major dialect of Wu?

    <p>Shanghainese</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What grammar or writing style is still used by some writers despite the introduction of báihùa?

    <p>Classical or semi-classical style</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which regions is Wú primarily spoken?

    <p>Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary purpose of adopting Simplified Chinese in 1949?

    <p>To eradicate illiteracy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phonetic transcription system was created before others and used in Taiwan after 1949?

    <p>Zhuyin Fuhao</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary focus of Protestant missionaries' activities in China after the Opium War?

    <p>Creating romanization systems for various Chinese varieties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major role of Pŭtōnghuà in modern China?

    <p>It is the main language of government and education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is zhuyin fuhao primarily associated with?

    <p>A phonetic transcription system for Mandarin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the first to attempt romanization of the Chinese language?

    <p>Jesuit missionaries from Spain and Portugal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the general sentiment towards the Manchu Qing dynasty at the end of the 19th century?

    <p>Strong discontent and calls for reform</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which historical period did the first romanization systems for Chinese emerge?

    <p>Late Ming Dynasty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary aim of Chinese calligraphy according to traditional practices?

    <p>To produce aesthetically pleasing art</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main debates regarding phonetic transcription systems in China?

    <p>Whether to replace characters entirely or use them alongside transcriptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Mandarin and Baihua

    • The standard spoken language of China is Mandarin
    • A northern dialect of Mandarin, as spoken by educated people in northern China, became the basis for a new form of written Chinese known as báihùa (plain language)
    • Writers were encouraged to use báihùa (plain language) instead of Classical Chinese
    • However, some writers continued to use Classical or semi-classical styles

    Chinese Phonetic Transcription

    • Many systems exist to represent the sounds of spoken Chinese phonetically
    • Most systems are based on the Latin/Roman alphabet
    • Romanization systems were initially created by Jesuit missionaries to aid in the study of Mandarin
    • Protestant missionaries created romanization systems for languages other than Mandarin
    • Chinese patriots conceived phonetic scripts that sought to modernize and strengthen China
    • Debate arose about whether phonetic transcription systems should be used with Chinese characters or replace them altogether

    Modern Chinese Script

    • Simplified Chinese, adopted in 1949 in China, seeks to reduce illiteracy
    • Simplified Chinese is also used in Singapore

    Varieties of Chinese

    • Putonghua (Mandarin) spoken by over 1 billion people, primarily in China and Taiwan
    • Wu spoken by about 77 million people in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces
    • Yue (Cantonese) spoken by about 66 million people in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces
    • Min Nan spoken in southern Fujian, Guangdong, southern Hainan, and parts of Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces
    • Jinyu spoken by about 45 million people mainly in Shanxi province
    • Hakka spoken in southeastern China, parts of Taiwan, and the New Territories of Hong Kong
    • Xiang (Hunanese) spoken by about 25 million people mainly in Hunan province
    • Gan spoken by about 20.5 million people in Jiangxi province
    • Min Bei (Northern Min) spoken by about 10.3 million people mainly in Northern Fujian Province
    • Min Dong spoken mainly in east central Fujian
    • Min Zhong spoken mainly in central Fujian
    • Dungan spoken by the Hui people in China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (using the Cyrillic alphabet)
    • Pu-Xian spoken by about 6000 people mainly in east central Fujian
    • Huizhou spoken in southern Anhui and northern Zhejiang provinces

    Calligraphy

    • Chinese calligraphers focus on aesthetic pleasing calligraphy rather than legibility

    Script Types

    • Small Seal Script (小篆)
    • Clerical Script (隸書)
    • Standard Script with zhùyīn fúhào (楷書)
    • Running script (行書)
    • Grass script
    • Simplified characters (简体字)

    Hànyǔ pīnyīn (汉语拼音)

    • The standardized romanization system for Mandarin
    • Used in dictionaries, textbooks, and communication materials

    Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    • The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is provided as an example for the usage of Hànyǔ pīnyīn (汉语拼音)

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    Chinese Script and Language PDF

    Description

    Explore the evolution of the Chinese language, focusing on the transition from Classical Chinese to báihùa and the development of various phonetic transcription systems. This quiz delves into the historical context and debates surrounding pronunciation representation in Mandarin. Test your knowledge on these important linguistic changes in China.

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