I just got around to watching this! I don't know if you know this little factoid already, but I learned a handy guide to the diacritical marks in Mandarin Pinyin: they actually represent the inflection/tone you should use when saying the word. So for example, mā would be pronounced with a flat inflection. Má would use a rising tone, and mà would be a falling one. Lastly, mǎ would go down and then back up. In this way, unlike Wade-Giles which used numbers for Mandarin tones, it's much more visual and easier to deduce what you're actually supposed to say. That's the handy little guide I learned. But I'm not an expert at all.
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Brendan, I like listening to you. You are a very thoughtful guy, but sometimes you are just too reasonable and humble.
ReplyDeleteI can't speak for anyone else, but you haven't even come close to pissing me off....yet. ;-)
I will try harder next time Gaston.
ReplyDeleteI just got around to watching this! I don't know if you know this little factoid already, but I learned a handy guide to the diacritical marks in Mandarin Pinyin: they actually represent the inflection/tone you should use when saying the word. So for example, mā would be pronounced with a flat inflection. Má would use a rising tone, and mà would be a falling one. Lastly, mǎ would go down and then back up. In this way, unlike Wade-Giles which used numbers for Mandarin tones, it's much more visual and easier to deduce what you're actually supposed to say. That's the handy little guide I learned. But I'm not an expert at all.
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