[on WED, -not- Tue] Standard Chinese ("pǔtōnghuà") pronunciation workshop

During the meeting, please
[1] be in a distraction-free, quiet environment;
[2] use headphones/headset to minimize audio feedback;
[3] focus on the current task;
[4] pay close attention to melody, rhythm, and sounds.
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my favorite resources
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overview
Learning new concepts/skills should be uncomfortable.

English is "legato" with dynamics/stresses.
Chinese is a "staccato" melody, so "lighten up" and "tighten up".
"Wèi de mǐ ne?" vs. "Wait a minute!"

Běijīng: It really is "jing", not "zhing".
Zhōngguó: more like "joong-gwo", -not- "zhoong-gwaw", -not- "choong-gwaw".
Does your "wo" sound like "whoa"?! 😂

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"melody"
What do we mean by tones? (melody/pitch)
I'll call the four basic patterns "high", "up", "low", "down".

What is meant by "neutral tone"? (melodic examples)

What are "tone pairs"? (listening drill)
Actually, you don't even need to name the patterns, just be able to hear and say them.

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challenging sounds
ji qi xi Push the tip of your tongue against the back of your bottom teeth.
JEE CHEE SEE [~lisp]

zi ci si
DZIH TSIH SIH

zhi chi shi (z)ri [curl your tongue upward]
JUR CHUR SHUR ZRUH

jü qü xü [~whistle] For ü, while keeping your lips puckered like you're going to whistle, push the tip of your tongue toward your lips, and try to make an "ee" sound!

zu cu su
DZOO TSOO SOO

zhu chu shu (z)ru
JOO CHOO SHOO ZROO [curl your tongue up]

zhao chao shao
找 炒 少 Pull your tongue back, as if you're trying to swallow it, so that the sound is coming from deep down in your throat!

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shadowing:
míngzi (given name)
míngtiān (tomorrow)
huānyíng (welcome)
diànyǐng (movie)
píngguǒ (apple)

xīngqī (week)
xuéxí (to study)
bùxíng (won't do; unacceptable)
xínglixiāng (luggage; suitcase)

shēng (alive; raw; fresh)
shú (cooked; ripe; familiar)
shúxī (to be familiar with)
shùxué (mathematics)

zhù zài (to live at/in)
zhùyì (to notice; to pay attention to)
zhǔyì (idea; plan)

rúguǒ (if)
jìnrù (to enter)
rújīn (nowadays)
rèqíng (enthusiastic; passionate)

chūlái (to come out)
chūqù (to go out)
chúle (except for; apart from)
Liù chú sān děngyú èr. (Six divided by three yields two.)
cāntīng (dining hall; restaurant)
tíngchēchǎng (parking lot)
chūzū chē (taxi; "out rent car")

信 -vs- 性
星 -vs- 心
上 -vs- 象
伤 -vs- 箱

大小 -vs- 大勺
打少 -vs- 打扫

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