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Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

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Re: Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

#51

Post by laowushi »

chj wrote: post #42
sdrothrock wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> my suggestion is to go with novels that're translated into Chinese from English, like Sherlock Holmes. The translator uses good Chinese, and the stories are familiar, therefore you will have an easy time understanding the texts Really? This seems counterintuitive unless China has a really, really good translation industry. In my experience with Japanese translations, you're as likely to get a good translation as yo…

of course good translation is rare. The reason I recommended Sherlock is that it was translated back in 1980s, golden age of translation industry in China. after that, things went down quickly as those masters passed away.

是的。

Re: Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

#52

Post by laowushi »

jliechti1 wrote: post #13

I've done my own manual version of this kind of service to learn Chinese. Would definitely pay for something like this! The biggest problem for me is the availability of Chinese audio books (specifically, non-abridged versions - anyone have recommended sources?) When your reading level is high enough to read novels, the English translation is no longer that important - if I could just get the Chinese audio and text I…

天龙八部最经典的一个版本，我前段时间又重新看了一篇，送给你： http://www.youku.com/show_page/id_zcbfb7d48962411de83b1.html

Re: Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

#53

Post by trevelyan »

Worth mentioning that Popup Chinese has an extensive archive of short stories, with full contextualized (i.e. not dictionary) definitions and accompanying audio recordings:

http://popupchinese.com/lessons/short-stories

Selections cover a range of material including classical texts like Dream of the Red Chamber, as well as more contemporary and foreign fiction in translation. Materials can be access without signing up, but creating a free account enables click-to-add vocab lists, SRS study tools, and more.

Re: Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

#54

Post by imron »

simplify wrote: post #47
imron wrote: post #14

If anyone is looking for a similar tool that works with any Chinese content you like, and is performant even for long texts, you might be interested in my Chinese Text Analyser: http://www.chinesetextanalyser.com/ It also remembers words you know and don't know and can give you an approximation of how well you'll know a given piece of text before you start reading it (once it has a fair idea of your vocabulary). Curr…

Let me know when you release the OSX version, I'm very interested in purchasing.

Will do!

Re: Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

#55

Post by readme »

coupdejarnac wrote: post #29
readme wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly you've got to get a tutor if you want to learn a language with any sort of speed, preferably a native speaker. With a native speaker you could shred through those books fairly quickly. I've been studying Arabic since April and have native instructors, and at this point I can easily pick up a children's book and read it. I can make out most of the news as well.

I agree in principle- I was in an intensive Chinese program in Beijing, and I read the children's books with tutors. This was not like "See Spot Run" type of stuff. In regular class, you mostly learn everyday language, which only helps to scratch the surface of literature with a lot of background cultural context that is assumed of native speakers.

Yeah, I'm in an intensive program as well. 6 hours a day M-F all Arabic, sometimes a 1-1 session with a teacher. Normal classes it's 5-1.

Re: Show HN: Learn Chinese Through Novels

#56

Post by rahimnathwani »

readme wrote: post #22
coupdejarnac wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a similar problem. While in China, I bought some Chinese books for kids that had pinyin. Even then, the Chinese is filled with colloquialisms or archaic language. Stuff that is the equivalent of "once upon a time" was very hard for me to understand. There is probably a big market now for books with Chinese and English that will help ease foreigners into the language.

Honestly you've got to get a tutor if you want to learn a language with any sort of speed, preferably a native speaker. With a native speaker you could shred through those books fairly quickly. I've been studying Arabic since April and have native instructors, and at this point I can easily pick up a children's book and read it. I can make out most of the news as well.

> With a native speaker you could shred through those books fairly quickly.

I'm not sure this applies equally to Chinese, as it's not a phonetic language. Extensive speaking/listening practice isn't totally transferrable to reading tasks. There are many things I can hear for which I might not recognise the characters (because I seldom see them written) and, equally, there are characters for which I know the meaning (because I read them when shopping online, and have seen them in context a lot) but not the sound.

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