Research Process - Presenting Data visually (21 January 2012)

Visual approach to Second survey:

Research Process - Chapter headings for Individual Researched Text (16 Jan 2012)

Original Pinyin translations, Chapter Titles and (literal translations).

思想研究 (thought)
Sīxiǎng Yánjiū

1. Thinking about research

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研究战略 (research strategy)
Yánjiū zhànlüè

2. Research Strategy

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定向研究 (targeted research)
Dìngxiàng yánjiū

3. Research approaches

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显著文本 (significant texts)
Xiǎnzhù wénběn

4. Significant Texts

---

理论辩论 (theoretical debates)
Lǐlùn biànlùn

5. Current theoretical debates

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计划提出 (plan)
Jìhuà tíchū

6. Plan forward

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附录部分 (appendixes)
Fùlù bùfèn

7. Appendices:

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Research Process - Second Survey on Learning Mandarin (14 Jan 2011)

Survey on Learning Mandarin (Jan 2012)
I sent the survey to 3 Mandarin Chinese learning Meetup groups:

London Chinese Writing Meetup
83 members
2 responses to survey
percentage replied:  2.4%

London Mandarin Learners
356 members
23 responses
percentage replied: 8.9%

London Chinese Language Meetup
1652 members
0 responses
percentage replied: 0%


RESULTS: (as of 14 Jan 2012)

Research Process - Influential Academics, Publishers and Designers of Chinese language learning (07 Jan 2011)

Influential Experts, Academics, Publishers and Designers of Chinese language learning materials
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1200s
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1294 - JOHN OF MONTECORVINO (MISSIONARY) First Roman Catholic missionary to reach China proper and first bishop of Khanbaliq (Beijing) - learned the Mongolian language and translate the New Testament and the Psalms.

1500s


1700s - systematic romanisation of Chinese
MATTEO RICCI (JESUIT PRIEST) (1552-1610)

NICOLAS TRIGAULT (1577-1628)
Trigault produced one of the first systems of Chinese Romanisation (based mostly on Ricci's earlier work) in 1626, in his work Xiru Ermu Zi (西儒耳目資 "Aid to the Eyes and Ears of Western Literati")
Image of book:
http://www.thebeijingcenter.org/show/?c=show&height=500&width=700&id=115

1800s
-------
ROBERT MORRISON (MISSIONARY) (1782-1834)
Books/Biographies?
1815 - VOLUMES 1-3: DICTIONARY OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE IN THREE PARTS
from: http://www.babelstone.co.uk/morrison/morrison/biography.html

Tynes & Wear Archives and Museums
http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/explorers/robert-morrison/

WILLIAM MILNE (MISSIONARY) (1785-1822)
TRACT: THE TWO FRIENDS (1819) - Chinese Christian Tract
from: http://www.bdcconline.net/en/stories/m/milne-william.php

THOMAS F.WADE (SECRETARY BRITISH EMBASSY) ()
1867 - Published a book Yuyan Zi Er Ji (Teach Yourself Chinese) - used a romanisation system adapted from Robert Morrison

H. A. GILES (1845-1935)
1892 - Published a Chinese English Dictionary in which he used Thomas Wade's system with slight modifications.
from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/233634/HA-Giles
1892 - introduction of WADE-GILES system until 1958 (66 years)


1900s
-------

1913 - CHINESE GOVERNMENT - ZHUYIN ZIMU / later BOPOMOFO
At the Government sponsored Commission on the Unification of Pronounciation, delegates led by Woo Tsin-hang adopted a standard phonetic alphabet called initially zhùyin zìmu (phonetic alphabet), but later was renamed to gúoyin zìmu (national phonetic alphabet). It was renamed yet again in 1930, to its current name, zhùyin fúhào (注音符號, or phonetic symbols), but is commonly refered to simply as the bopomofo today, after the first four letters ㄅㄆㄇㄈ.
from:  http://www.mandarinbook.net/bopomofo/


1958 - CHINESE GOVERNMENT - PINYIN ROMANISATION - HANYU PINYIN
from: http://www.white-clouds.com/iclc/cliej/cl4ao.htm (TO READ MORE)
International Standard Organisation passed a resolutio adopting Hanyu Pinyin as the international standard for Chinese romanisation.

2000s
-------

2000 - PLECO MOBILE SOFTWARE: MICHAEL LOVE - Lived in China for 11 years.

2008 - SKRITTER.COM WEBSITE: NICK WINTER/SCOTT ERICKSON - Inspired by drawing stylus game.

Research Process - Stories about Chinese Characters/Mnemonics (06 January 2012)

Learning Chinese the Easy Way - A story book by Sam Song, 2009
http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Chinese-Easy-Way-Understand/dp/1419686119/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325871037&sr=8-2#reader_1419686119


Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters, Vol 1, 2007
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080483816X/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk

Chinese Characters: Learn & Remember 2178 Characters and Their meanings, Dr Alan Hoenig, 2009
http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Characters-Learn-Remember-Meanings/dp/0982232403/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325871037&sr=8-4

Reading and Writing Chinese Simplified Character Edition, William McNaughton
http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Writing-Chinese-Simplified-Character/dp/0804835098/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1325871037&sr=8-5#reader_0804835098
(Though association is not strong enough)


eHow: Good lesson where character and pronounciation is explained. Meaning of character is sometimes described.
http://www.ehow.com/video_4402643_writing-_heads_-chinese-characters.html?pid=1&cp=1&wa_vrid=409fe908-d4db-458a-9704-238e2bc745fc&wa_vlsrc=continuous

Research Process - Chinese Dialects (06 January 2012)

http://chineseculture.about.com/cs/language/a/dialects.htm

7 Language Groups:

1.Putonghua (Mandarin) - based on Beijing dialect

2.Gan (South-Central)

3.Kejia (Hakka) (Southern Mainland and Taiwan)

4.Min (Eastern and Southern regions)

5.Wu (inc Shanghai) - Eastern region

6.Xiang (South Central inland)

7.Yue (Cantonese) (Southern region)

Each groups consists of a number of dialects. These languages are mostly spoken by the Han people of China. There are also non-Chinese languages spoken by minorities in China such as Tibetan, Mongolian and Miao.

Mandarin has been the official national language since 1913.

They all share the same writing system.

Comparison of dialects:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynbRQeeEma4



Chinese pronounciation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U72hN_g9pss&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL0076E6C693D1AC01

23*/21 Initials (Consonents)
24*/37 Finals (Vowels)

Pinyin Tones - Finals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M48ortJRwEE&feature=autoplay&list=PL0076E6C693D1AC01&lf=results_main&playnext=2


Chinese Universal Tones - Mike Campbell - Glossika
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G16RmjibRVQ&feature=related

Research Process - Sky Lanterns (04 Jan 2012)

Sky lanterns were originally designed for use by the military in Ancient China for signalling.

Due to increasing popularity Chinese Sky Lanterns are being sold in Europe and advertised on TV.

I wonder if these can be added in as a motif to teach the characters. Certainly the symbolism of the colours of the lanterns is important. Lanterns are sent into the sky during celebrations each New Year in China.

ie.
Red lantern - for celebrations and represents good luck
Orange lantern - sacred colour/strengthens concentration
Blue lantern - immortality and peace / birth of a boy
Yellow lantern - signifies freedom and good luck
Green lantern - growth/prosperity
Pink lantern - love/trust / birth of a girl
White lantern - mourning

http://www.chineselantern.co.uk

http://www.skyorbs.co.uk/contact-form.php

The traditional diamond shape is known as 'Kongming' by China.
The traditional cylindrical shape is known as 'Khoom Fay' by Thailand.

Terms:
Chinese Lantern
Sky Lantern
Khoom Fay Lantern

Famous Lantern festival:
Yuanxiao or Shangyuan festival

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantern_Festival
Children go out to carry the lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. 'cāidēngmí'It officially ends the Chinese New Year celebrations.

The riddles often contain messages of good fortune, family reunion, abundant harvest, prosperity and love.

Dengshikou was a place in Beijing where lanterns were sold, lit and displayed.
Deng means Lantern and shi means market.

The most eye catching lantern is called the Dragon Pole.

http://www.lantern-festival.com/