This book begins with a general introduction of various“Chinese languages”, languages of different Chinese ethnic groups as well as the majority Han people. The relation between Mandarin Chinese and Chinese dialects is also explained with fair clarity. Through reading the introduction, you will learn why Mandarin Chinese has become “the Common Language” (Putonghua) of the nation, how Chinese written characters evolved into the present form, and what differences exist between the classic and modern language, and between the formal written style and informal speech. In addition, the system of Mandarin Chinese Pinyin and Tones are introduced in detail to serve as a threshold for exploring the contents of the book. After the introduction are six chapters elaborating on the distinctive features of Mandarin Chinese, respectively in terms of its phonology, tones, morphology and syntax. In each chapter, typical and practically usable examples are provided along with annotation of the tones and translations, so as to help readers learn with ease.
By Du Zhengming, Paperback, English, 174 pages, 9.15"x6.25"
