Its modularity, reminiscent of assembling a puzzle is one of the most interesting features of Chinese
– say Prof. Dominik Mierzejewski and mgr inż. Zhan Kurowska.
Many words are formed by combining simpler semantic elements, which makes them easier to remember.
Indeed, in Chinese, many words function like tiny pictures. A computer is literally an electric brain, a telephone – electric speech, a television – electric vision, while an airplane – a flying machine. It's a language that often requires not so much memorisation as understanding.
Thanks to this logic, students can understand and remember new vocabulary faster
– underline Prof. Dominik Mierzejewski and mgr inż. Zhan Kurowska.
Tone
However, that's just the beginning. Chinese is a tonal language, meaning the meaning of a word depends not only on the sounds we pronounce, but also on how we intonate them. Mandarin has four basic tones, which can be false friends. Two very similar-sounding expressions are a good example: 睡觉 (shuì jiào – two-quarter tone) means to go to sleep, while 水饺 (shuǐ jiǎo – two-thirds tone) means dumplings (boiled, Chinese dumplings). The difference may seem small, but the consequences can be significant. Instead of ordering dinner, you might accidentally announce that you're dreaming of a nap.
False Friend
In Chinese, the similarity in the sound of words also influences culture and everyday superstitions. The number four is considered unlucky because its pronunciation resembles the word for "death." Eight, on the other hand, is greatly favoured because it is associated with wealth and success. That's why the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing began on 8 August 2008, at 8:08 PM. Everything there was dedicated to the lucky number.
There is no single language
We should also remember that there isn't simply one Chinese language. In fact, we're dealing with a mosaic of languages and dialects. There's Mandarin, there's Cantonese and there are local varieties that can vary greatly.
Chinese languages, as we're talking about them, are a mixture of different dialects
– explain Prof. Dominik Mierzejewski and mgr inż. Zhan Kurowska
Prof. Mierzejewski adds a vivid recollection:
In the 1990s, when we couldn't communicate on a 23-hour train ride, I would trace characters on my palm to communicate.
It's precisely writing that unites people with different language skills. Even though pronunciation varies across regions, Chinese characters remain a common code. So, you may not be able to communicate verbally but still communicate in writing.
Logic
Signs themselves also contain a great deal of logic. They often contain elements that hint at meaning. If a sign has a wood-related component, there's a good chance it refers to a wooden object, like a table, chair or bed. It's as if the language was leaving little clues for learners.
What about its difficulty?
Contrary to a popular belief, Chinese is not an impossible language to learn. It has no case declination, no tenses in the form known from many European languages and some sounds can be surprisingly familiar to the Polish ear. The difficulty lies primarily in the tones and writing, not in the language's structure itself.
Chinese Language Day is a good time to look at it differently – not as something unattainable, but as a fascinating system in which every element has significance, every tone carries hidden meaning. It's also a good opportunity to remind you that Chinese can also be learned at the University of Lodz – the course is taught by mgr inż. Zhan Kurowska as part of Asian Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies.
Source: Prof. Dominik Mierzejewski and mgr inż. Zhan Kurowska
Edit: Kacper Szczepaniak, Cenytre for Brand Communications, University of Lodz
