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A Discussion on Teaching Chinese Noun Phrases: Forms and Interpretations
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A discussion on teaching Chinese noun phrases: forms and interpretations
This paper discusses the different Chinese nominal forms and their corresponding
interpretations, focusing on the contrast with their English counterparts. It will show that the interpretation of Chinese nominals, especially bare nouns, can indeed be complicated. Proper contexts thus need to be provided during teaching to facilitate understanding by learners.
Three basic nominal forms appear in Chinese: bare nouns, nouns with
demonstratives (Dem+N), and nouns with numerals (Num+N). Because of the simplicity of their form, bare nouns are usually the first to be introduced. In terms of their interpretations, bare nouns can refer to both definite and indefinite objects. Such a function appears to overlap Dem+N and Num+N respectively, since a Dem+N is definite and a Num+N indefinite. Compared with Dem+N and Num+N form, a bare noun lacks the surface clue to indicate definiteness. In addition, Dem+N and Num+N are more similar in their forms to their English counterparts, and thus learners have a tendency to equate the two. However, as Liu (2004)
has shown, “a/an+N” in English does not call for
a Num+N in Chinese in all cases. This paper will examine the bare nouns in Chinese more closely, and compare their function with Dem+N and Num+N.
In my oral presentation with handouts, I will present the different interpretations
of the three basic nominal forms in Chinese. The contrast between English and Chinese noun phrases will be made by providing examples. The purpose is to investigate possible confusion that learners may encounter. Cases of learners’ mistakes will also be provided to demonstrate the point.
Chinese language textbooks, when illustrating Chinese noun phrase structures,
usually focus on the requirement of inserting measure words between the numeral and the noun. This is undoubtedly a very important aspect to note. However, it by no means covers all the difficulties that English speaking students may face when learning Chinese noun phrases. This study shows that the interpretations of different forms of Chinese noun phrases can be complicated, and therefore can pose a challenge to English-speaking learners of Chinese. I suggest further that when teaching Chinese noun phrases, the proper context, including linguistic and/or physical context, needs to be provided to demonstrate the proper usage of noun phrases.
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A discussion on teaching Chinese noun phrases: forms and interpretations
This paper discusses the different Chinese nominal forms and their corresponding
interpretations, focusing on the contrast with their English counterparts. It will show that
the interpretation of Chinese nominals, especially bare nouns, can indeed be complicated.
Proper contexts thus need to be provided during teaching to facilitate understanding by
learners.
Three basic nominal forms appear in Chinese: bare nouns, nouns with
demonstratives (Dem+N), and nouns with numerals (Num+N). Because of the simplicity
of their form, bare nouns are usually the first to be introduced. In terms of their
interpretations, bare nouns can refer to both definite and indefinite objects. Such a
function appears to overlap Dem+N and Num+N respectively, since a Dem+N is definite
and a Num+N indefinite. Compared with Dem+N and Num+N form, a bare noun lacks
the surface clue to indicate definiteness. In addition, Dem+N and Num+N are more
similar in their forms to their English counterparts, and thus learners have a tendency to
equate the two. However, as Liu (2004)
has shown, “a/an+N” in English does not call for
a Num+N in Chinese in all cases. This paper will examine the bare nouns in Chinese
more closely, and compare their function with Dem+N and Num+N.
In my oral presentation with handouts, I will present the different interpretations
of the three basic nominal forms in Chinese. The contrast between English and Chinese
noun phrases will be made by providing examples. The purpose is to investigate possible
confusion that learners may encounter. Cases of learners’ mistakes will also be provided
to demonstrate the point.
Chinese language textbooks, when illustrating Chinese noun phrase structures,
usually focus on the requirement of inserting measure words between the numeral and the
noun. This is undoubtedly a very important aspect to note. However, it by no means
covers all the difficulties that English speaking students may face when learning Chinese
noun phrases. This study shows that the interpretations of different forms of Chinese
noun phrases can be complicated, and therefore can pose a challenge to English-speaking
learners of Chinese. I suggest further that when teaching Chinese noun phrases, the
proper context, including linguistic and/or physical context, needs to be provided to
demonstrate the proper usage of noun phrases.
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