Mandarin initial consonants are traditionally classified into several series. The classification ... more Mandarin initial consonants are traditionally classified into several series. The classification is based on the articulatory features. The paper explores whether the terms used for identifying particular series reflect real articulatory features of the proper consonants (such as: is the "retroflex" series articulated with the tip of the tongue curled backwards?) The conclusion: we have to distinguish between the phonological usage of the particular term (i.e. the term is used for classifying the series) and the phonetic usage (i.e. the term is used for describing the articulation)
This dissertation concerns itself with the segmental syllable of Mandarin, i.e., of standard Chin... more This dissertation concerns itself with the segmental syllable of Mandarin, i.e., of standard Chinese as codified in P.R.C. and known as putonghua. While it leaves aside the aspect of tone it explores all major topics related to the phonological and phonetic description of the isolated Mandarin segmental syllable and the ways in which they are treated in broad literature, both Chinese and Western. We approach the subject from the perspective of teaching Chinese as a second language (TCSL), where mastering the syllabary (cca 400 segmental syllables, 1300 tonic syllables) represents a crucial basic step. Poor command of the pronunciation of isolated syllables will inevitably have a detrimental effect on the spoken language competence of a student. Because the pinyin romanization system (developed in P.R.C., officially approved in 1958) assumedly is the only feasible phonological system for the paedagogical purposes, the present dissertation does not aspire to establish any new phonolog...
The paper is concerned with an important group of Chinese words, belonging to the high frequency ... more The paper is concerned with an important group of Chinese words, belonging to the high frequency items of the lexicon: monosyllabic function words such as prepositions, personal pronouns etc. They carry lexical tone, thus have a potential to be stressed. Yet, due to their deficiency in lexical meaning and frequent usage, they regularly behave as unstressed (and phonetically reduced) in connected speech. They receive stress (i.e. full pronunciation) only occasionally, particularly if emphasised. A new term is coined for these words: “the cliticoids”. The author provides their list and reviews the pitfalls of their pronunciation, observing that the Chinese cliticoids display similar features as so called “words with weak forms” found in English. Finally, short (2–3 syllabic) chunks of speech which contain the cliticoids are introduced. They are particularly designed for exercising the unstressed, reduced pronunciation of the cliticoids in L2 teaching. They are termed “phonetic chunks”
Diploma thesis gives a comprehensive description of the business plan for establishing a restaura... more Diploma thesis gives a comprehensive description of the business plan for establishing a restaurant. Specifies the steps prior to the commencement of the enterprise, from the reconstruction of space and choose the legal form of business, through the creation of marketing and business plan, to evaluate the project in terms of financing. Finally, we consider its implementation.Diplomová práce podává ucelený popis podnikatelského plánu na založení restaurace. Konkretizuje jednotlivé kroky předcházející zahájení činnosti podniku, od rekonstrukce prostor a volby právní formy podnikání, přes tvorbu marketingového a obchodního plánu, až po zhodnocení projektu po stránce finanční. V závěru je pak zvažována jeho realizace
Explorations into Chinese as a Second Language, 2017
The author explores the specifics of learning/teaching Standard Chinese (SC) pronunciation, its g... more The author explores the specifics of learning/teaching Standard Chinese (SC) pronunciation, its goals and methods, within the broader context of L2 pronunciation learning/teaching. The ways in which research findings in Chinese phonetics and phonology might facilitate the acquisition of SC pronunciation by adult learners are investigated. An overview is provided of the textbooks and linguistic literature dealing with SC pronunciation. The usefulness of metalinguistic instruction is discussed. The following topics, among others, are addressed: the SC syllable structure, the third tone, acoustic correlates of stress, and the importance of unstressed function words.
In this article, we shall be concerned with the isolated segmental syllable of Mandarin,1 and wil... more In this article, we shall be concerned with the isolated segmental syllable of Mandarin,1 and will be leaving aside the suprasegmental component of tone. A traditional model of the Chinese syllable (see Figure 2) splits up a syllable into two basic subsyllabic components: an initial (shēngmǔ 声母, i. e. an initial consonant), and a final (yùnmǔ 韵母, i. e. the rest of the syllable). This traditional analysis is not necessarily accepted by all phonologists (for an alternative solution, see Figure 4). However, in teaching Mandarin it has been employed more or less universally, since it was adopted as the basis for the widely accepted pīnyīn spelling system (pīnyīn is a major spelling tool used in current textbooks). Since we are concerned with methods of language teaching in this article, we shall follow this line and stick to pīnyīn in all respects. It is used for the notation of syllables, initials, finals, or particular sounds (it is always presented in italics). Pīnyīn symbols (not IP...
Integrating Chinese Linguistic Research and Language Teaching and Learning, 2016
In colloquial Standard Mandarin, monosyllabic tonal function words (such as classifiers, preposit... more In colloquial Standard Mandarin, monosyllabic tonal function words (such as classifiers, prepositions, personal pronouns, etc.), are regularly pronounced as unstressed and phonetically reduced (e.g. tā 他 [thə]), unless they are emphasized ([thaː]). Their unstressed forms play an important role in speech rhythm. This study investigates this group of words. I open the discussion by addressing the general issue of stress in Mandarin, arguing that de-stress might be an essential notion here. English words with weak forms (articles, prepositions, etc.) are then introduced. I establish a similar group of words in Chinese, coining a new term for them: the cliticoids . The strong resemblance between both groups is pointed out. Finally, pedagogical implications of the findings are proposed: the proper handling of the cliticoids may help L2 learners to improve their oral performance.
... Let us mention just a few of them: Yuen-Ren Chao 1933, Lawton Hartman 1944, Charles Francis H... more ... Let us mention just a few of them: Yuen-Ren Chao 1933, Lawton Hartman 1944, Charles Francis Hockett 1947, Dragunov and Dragunova 1955, Wang Fushi 1963, Yuen-Ren Chao 1968, Paul Kratochvil 1968, Chin-Chuan Cheng 1973, Frank Hsüeh 1986, Jerry Norman 1988 ...
Článek se zabývá jevem aspirace (přídechu) ve standardní čínštině a v angličtině, a to v širším l... more Článek se zabývá jevem aspirace (přídechu) ve standardní čínštině a v angličtině, a to v širším lingvistickém kontextu. Diskutovanými tématy jsou: 1. jak všeobecné, tak jazykově specifické artikulační a akustické vlastnosti aspirovaných souhlásek (tj. dlouhé trvání, napjatá artikulace, dlouhý VOT; na rozdíl od běžného přístupu, který zdůrazňuje především glotální tření, autorka upozorňuje na možné alternativní zdroje aspiračního šumu), 2. odlišné fungování aspirace v angličtině a v čínštině (v angličtině: sekundární fonetický rys závěrových souhlsek /p/, /t/, /k/, který se objevuje jen v určitých pozicích; čínština: distinktivní rys, který se v konsonantickém subsystému uplatňuje ve třech párech závěrových a třech párech polozávěrových souhlásek. Autorka představuje možnosti vytváření fonologického kontrastu u závěrových (a polozávěrových) souhlásek v jazycích za pomoci fonologických rysů [±znělá] a [±aspirovaná]. Poté ukazuje rozličné způsoby, kterými se jazykem zvolené fonologické kategorie realizují napříč jazyky (možné vysvětlení rozmanitosti nabízejí „Polarizační prinincip“, “Magnet Model Theory” a Trubeckého „fonologické síto“). Popsaná rozmanitost přináší četné problémy v produkci i percepci souhlásek při studiu cizích jazyků. Chyby studenta přitom odrážejí jeho mateřský jazyk.
Mandarin initial consonants are traditionally classified into several series. The classification ... more Mandarin initial consonants are traditionally classified into several series. The classification is based on the articulatory features. The paper explores whether the terms used for identifying particular series reflect real articulatory features of the proper consonants (such as: is the "retroflex" series articulated with the tip of the tongue curled backwards?) The conclusion: we have to distinguish between the phonological usage of the particular term (i.e. the term is used for classifying the series) and the phonetic usage (i.e. the term is used for describing the articulation)
This dissertation concerns itself with the segmental syllable of Mandarin, i.e., of standard Chin... more This dissertation concerns itself with the segmental syllable of Mandarin, i.e., of standard Chinese as codified in P.R.C. and known as putonghua. While it leaves aside the aspect of tone it explores all major topics related to the phonological and phonetic description of the isolated Mandarin segmental syllable and the ways in which they are treated in broad literature, both Chinese and Western. We approach the subject from the perspective of teaching Chinese as a second language (TCSL), where mastering the syllabary (cca 400 segmental syllables, 1300 tonic syllables) represents a crucial basic step. Poor command of the pronunciation of isolated syllables will inevitably have a detrimental effect on the spoken language competence of a student. Because the pinyin romanization system (developed in P.R.C., officially approved in 1958) assumedly is the only feasible phonological system for the paedagogical purposes, the present dissertation does not aspire to establish any new phonolog...
The paper is concerned with an important group of Chinese words, belonging to the high frequency ... more The paper is concerned with an important group of Chinese words, belonging to the high frequency items of the lexicon: monosyllabic function words such as prepositions, personal pronouns etc. They carry lexical tone, thus have a potential to be stressed. Yet, due to their deficiency in lexical meaning and frequent usage, they regularly behave as unstressed (and phonetically reduced) in connected speech. They receive stress (i.e. full pronunciation) only occasionally, particularly if emphasised. A new term is coined for these words: “the cliticoids”. The author provides their list and reviews the pitfalls of their pronunciation, observing that the Chinese cliticoids display similar features as so called “words with weak forms” found in English. Finally, short (2–3 syllabic) chunks of speech which contain the cliticoids are introduced. They are particularly designed for exercising the unstressed, reduced pronunciation of the cliticoids in L2 teaching. They are termed “phonetic chunks”
Diploma thesis gives a comprehensive description of the business plan for establishing a restaura... more Diploma thesis gives a comprehensive description of the business plan for establishing a restaurant. Specifies the steps prior to the commencement of the enterprise, from the reconstruction of space and choose the legal form of business, through the creation of marketing and business plan, to evaluate the project in terms of financing. Finally, we consider its implementation.Diplomová práce podává ucelený popis podnikatelského plánu na založení restaurace. Konkretizuje jednotlivé kroky předcházející zahájení činnosti podniku, od rekonstrukce prostor a volby právní formy podnikání, přes tvorbu marketingového a obchodního plánu, až po zhodnocení projektu po stránce finanční. V závěru je pak zvažována jeho realizace
Explorations into Chinese as a Second Language, 2017
The author explores the specifics of learning/teaching Standard Chinese (SC) pronunciation, its g... more The author explores the specifics of learning/teaching Standard Chinese (SC) pronunciation, its goals and methods, within the broader context of L2 pronunciation learning/teaching. The ways in which research findings in Chinese phonetics and phonology might facilitate the acquisition of SC pronunciation by adult learners are investigated. An overview is provided of the textbooks and linguistic literature dealing with SC pronunciation. The usefulness of metalinguistic instruction is discussed. The following topics, among others, are addressed: the SC syllable structure, the third tone, acoustic correlates of stress, and the importance of unstressed function words.
In this article, we shall be concerned with the isolated segmental syllable of Mandarin,1 and wil... more In this article, we shall be concerned with the isolated segmental syllable of Mandarin,1 and will be leaving aside the suprasegmental component of tone. A traditional model of the Chinese syllable (see Figure 2) splits up a syllable into two basic subsyllabic components: an initial (shēngmǔ 声母, i. e. an initial consonant), and a final (yùnmǔ 韵母, i. e. the rest of the syllable). This traditional analysis is not necessarily accepted by all phonologists (for an alternative solution, see Figure 4). However, in teaching Mandarin it has been employed more or less universally, since it was adopted as the basis for the widely accepted pīnyīn spelling system (pīnyīn is a major spelling tool used in current textbooks). Since we are concerned with methods of language teaching in this article, we shall follow this line and stick to pīnyīn in all respects. It is used for the notation of syllables, initials, finals, or particular sounds (it is always presented in italics). Pīnyīn symbols (not IP...
Integrating Chinese Linguistic Research and Language Teaching and Learning, 2016
In colloquial Standard Mandarin, monosyllabic tonal function words (such as classifiers, preposit... more In colloquial Standard Mandarin, monosyllabic tonal function words (such as classifiers, prepositions, personal pronouns, etc.), are regularly pronounced as unstressed and phonetically reduced (e.g. tā 他 [thə]), unless they are emphasized ([thaː]). Their unstressed forms play an important role in speech rhythm. This study investigates this group of words. I open the discussion by addressing the general issue of stress in Mandarin, arguing that de-stress might be an essential notion here. English words with weak forms (articles, prepositions, etc.) are then introduced. I establish a similar group of words in Chinese, coining a new term for them: the cliticoids . The strong resemblance between both groups is pointed out. Finally, pedagogical implications of the findings are proposed: the proper handling of the cliticoids may help L2 learners to improve their oral performance.
... Let us mention just a few of them: Yuen-Ren Chao 1933, Lawton Hartman 1944, Charles Francis H... more ... Let us mention just a few of them: Yuen-Ren Chao 1933, Lawton Hartman 1944, Charles Francis Hockett 1947, Dragunov and Dragunova 1955, Wang Fushi 1963, Yuen-Ren Chao 1968, Paul Kratochvil 1968, Chin-Chuan Cheng 1973, Frank Hsüeh 1986, Jerry Norman 1988 ...
Článek se zabývá jevem aspirace (přídechu) ve standardní čínštině a v angličtině, a to v širším l... more Článek se zabývá jevem aspirace (přídechu) ve standardní čínštině a v angličtině, a to v širším lingvistickém kontextu. Diskutovanými tématy jsou: 1. jak všeobecné, tak jazykově specifické artikulační a akustické vlastnosti aspirovaných souhlásek (tj. dlouhé trvání, napjatá artikulace, dlouhý VOT; na rozdíl od běžného přístupu, který zdůrazňuje především glotální tření, autorka upozorňuje na možné alternativní zdroje aspiračního šumu), 2. odlišné fungování aspirace v angličtině a v čínštině (v angličtině: sekundární fonetický rys závěrových souhlsek /p/, /t/, /k/, který se objevuje jen v určitých pozicích; čínština: distinktivní rys, který se v konsonantickém subsystému uplatňuje ve třech párech závěrových a třech párech polozávěrových souhlásek. Autorka představuje možnosti vytváření fonologického kontrastu u závěrových (a polozávěrových) souhlásek v jazycích za pomoci fonologických rysů [±znělá] a [±aspirovaná]. Poté ukazuje rozličné způsoby, kterými se jazykem zvolené fonologické kategorie realizují napříč jazyky (možné vysvětlení rozmanitosti nabízejí „Polarizační prinincip“, “Magnet Model Theory” a Trubeckého „fonologické síto“). Popsaná rozmanitost přináší četné problémy v produkci i percepci souhlásek při studiu cizích jazyků. Chyby studenta přitom odrážejí jeho mateřský jazyk.
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