Language of the Dragon 1: A Classical Chinese Reader (C&t Asian Language Series) (English and Chinese Edition) (Chinese) 1st Edition

by Gregory Chiang (Author)

7 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0887272981

ISBN-10: 0887272983

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In this popular textbook for learners of classical Chinese, Chiang offers a systematic and clear analysis of classical Chinese (wenyan) grammar, using 20 readings from texts of the Spring and Autumn, Warring States, Qin, and early Han periods. The texts are written in modern Chinese, and each reading draws connections between the modern and classical forms of the language. Written exercises are included. As a prerequisite for this course, students should have studied at least three years of modern Chinese. The text is in traditional Chinese characters and English. A vocabulary glossary by pinyin and four in-depth grammar-oriented appendices are also included.

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Classical Chinese: A Functional Approach (Traditional Characters) (English and Chinese Edition) by Kai Li Paperback $39.99
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Language of the Dragon 2: A Classical Chinese Reader by Gregory Chiang Paperback $59.99
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Product details

Series: C&t Asian Language Series
Paperback
Publisher: Cheng & Tsui; 1 edition (June 1, 1999)
Language: English, Chinese
ISBN-10: 0887272983
ISBN-13: 978-0887272981
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1 x 10.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 5 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,498,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #401 in Chinese Language Instruction (Books)

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C. Burton

Dry, but complete

Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book covers all the basics, and does a fairly good job of explaining the material clearly. The only real complaint is how terribly dry the writing and explanations are. As long as you love the subject, you should be ok, but if you're interest is more passive, you may be in for some sleepy study sessions.

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Cronkin89

This book is meh

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I guess if you are really into knowing where all the Chinese idioms came from you will like this book. I would recommend just searching for it online. It is available for free.

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Lucas Klein

Answering the Debate on Classical Chinese Pedagogy

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2004

Format: Paperback

Within the minute world of Classical Chinese scholarship and pedagogy is the debate about whether North Americans should be taught classical Chinese in English or in modern Mandarin.
The dividing line seems to be the size and purpose of the university: larger universities, whose aim is to instruct research methods to a relatively large number of students with diverse backgrounds and interests (literary, historical, archaeological, for use with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean texts), prefer to teach Classical Chinese in English. Liberal arts colleges, with their goals for linguistic fluency and overall cultural knowledge, tend to emphasize how knowledge of Classical Chinese can boost proficiency of the modern spoken language, without regard for specialists or students of Japanese history. In addition, Chinese language and literature faculties are pretty distinctly divided at larger universities, and classes in Classical Chinese are usually handed to junior faculty in the literature division, rather than language teachers busy with upper-level language classes in Business Chinese.
Gregory Chiang was a Chinese teacher at Middlebury College, a small college with great pride in the strength of its Chinese department. Chiang Laoshi did not develop his Language of the Dragon with the book-buried, office-bound scholar in mind; instead, he put into his books a prominent concern for use of Classical Chinese in contemporary conversation. Nearly every explanation of vocabulary or grammar--almost all written both in Chinese and in English--translates the terms in question into modern Chinese. This not only solidifies grammar patterns in the modern learner's mind, it also sidesteps questions of translation from Classical Chinese to English by providing smoother examples of translation within the history of Chinese itself.
But in case my description makes Chiang Laoshi's books seem like an upper-level textbook for modern Mandarin rather than a serious series of lessons for rigorous study of Classical Chinese, let me dissuade you. All the virtues of other Classical Chinese textbooks are here: samples of famous and important texts culled from Classical literature and philosophy, accurate and exacting explanations of difficult vocabulary and grammatical patterns, well-formated appendices for quick reference, and more. But by keeping its subject close to modern spoken Chinese, the textbook also sets its texts up for quicker internalization--which means closer reading and better learning--than when trying to supplement everything with an English definition and sticky translation.
For future scholars and translators, the Chinese should come first and on its own terms; if the original text cannot be read fluidly, the translation cannot be written in English fluently.

16 people found this helpful

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William E. Smith

great for self study of classical chinese

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2007

Format: Paperback

the book is well-organized and set up for self study, although it would also work well in a classroom setting. Of particular value are the various indices that contain the essentials of grammar and syntax for
Classical Chinese. the follow-on volume appears to be equally valuable as a continuation of this one.

One person found this helpful

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Lorraine Wilcox

Great for Studying Classical Chinese

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 1999

Format: Paperback

I am trying to learn Classical Chinese, and I have found that this is the most complete and most user-friendly book yet. I have only used Volume 1, but will quickly get Volumes 2 and 3.

3 people found this helpful

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ZIYI LIU

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on June 21, 2015

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