Pronunciation Tutorial in Chinese ((with 2 CDs))

Author: Wang Ruojiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Language learning for pronunciation is different from vocabulary and grammar; it mainly relies not on analysis and memorization, but on listening and imitation. First, the ear must be able to distinguish sounds, then the speech organs must be able to imitate, and finally, new pronunciation habits are formed through continuous imitation. The last stage requires a long time, and during this stage, it is easy for learners to unconsciously be influenced by their native language, causing imitation to go astray. If no one provides timely reminders, it can become a habit, resulting in a foreign accent. The greatest feature of this textbook is its strong focus, and the compiler states in the "Preface" that it strives to embody the principle of "treating the specific symptoms with targeted measures." This can be said to be the main thread of the book. The "Pronunciation Status Survey" before the main text serves as the outline of the entire book, with the purpose of identifying students' "symptoms" and "targets." Only by correctly identifying the "symptoms" and "targets" can the "medicine" be effective and the "arrow" hit the mark. Except for the chapter "Basic Knowledge of Chinese Pinyin," which is review-oriented, the other chapters are relatively independent. Which to learn first, which to learn later, and which can be skipped—all depend on the structure of the "Pronunciation Status Survey." The focus is on solving practical problems, not on systematic knowledge, which is the greatest difference between this textbook and other pronunciation textbooks.