Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
I believe Chinese uses four tones. I know some 'traveler's Chinese' but I don't worry about getting the tones right. Locals are able to figure out what we mean based on context. Unfortunately, this is NOT the case in Japanese! Every sound must be absolutely perfect or there is no understanding. There are no tones but there are accents placing emphsis on certain parts of words. If these are wrong, they look at you like you are speaking Martian!
|
In order to keep old brains active I have been planning to learn Japanese or Chinese if I live long enough to reach retiring age. When I learned about all the emphasis/tone issues I knew I am in the wrong department. I have absolutely no ears for sounds let alone repetitions of them. You don't want to be in the same building if I decide to sing (I and bears are probably close acquaintances from my childhood
----- there is a Russian saying about people with no ear for music:
A bear stepped on your ear).