Morphology

- Morphology strictly bound to a set number of syllables

- A word may consist of one morpheme, most words consist of two morphemes

- Mandarin is a multisyllabic language

• Each single-syllable morpheme is represented by a single character, called zì ( 字 )

• Multisyllabic words consist of more than one zì and are known as cì ( 词 / 詞 )

• For traditional reasons, many Chinese speakers think of all words as being zì

Example:

Laser (English) = jīguāng 激光 (Mandarin)

Two morphemes: jī and guāng(literally meaning: „stimulated light“)

“Laser, this word, what does it mean?” (English) translates:

Jīguāng, zhè liǎng ge zì shì shénme yìsi? (Mandarin)

the sentence literally translates:

“Jī 激 and guāng 光 , these two zì 字 , what do they mean?”

• Due to the loss of sound distinctions, Modern Chinese varieties showed an increasing number of homonyms

• Many morphemes have associated meaning, they are bound morphemes

• Example: jì cannot stand alone, since a number of morphemes pronounce the same way in Mandarin

Pinyin Traditional Characters

Simplified Characters

Meaning

jīguāng 激光 激光 laser (“stimulated

light”)

jīqǐ 激起 激起 to arouse (“stimulated

rise”)

jīdàn 雞蛋 鸡蛋 chicken egg

gōngjī 公雞 公鸡 rooster (“male chicken”)

fēijī 飛機 飞机 aeroplane (“flying machine”)

jīqiāng 機槍 机枪 machine gun

- Mandarin speakers put characters in a specific context as part of their natural conversation

Example:

名字叫嘉英，嘉陵江的嘉，英國的英 Míngzi jiào Jiāyīng, Jiālíngjiāng de jiā, Yīngguó de yīng

this introductory sentence translates:

“My name is Jiāyīng, the ‘Jia’ of ‘Jialing River’ and the ‘Ying’ in ‘Yingguo’”

(Yingguo = “England” in Mandarin)

Syntax

• Verbs aren´t conjugated

• Nouns and adverbs are not changed for time or person

• Simple Sentences: S-V-O patternWŏ jiào Àiměi. Wŏ shì Zhōngguórén.

I'm called Amy. I am Chinese. (lit. “a Chinese person”)

• Use of particles

Negation

• Particle „bù“ negates „shì” (to be)Wŏ bú shì Měiguórén.

I am not American.

• Particle „méi“ negates „yŏu“ (to have)Wŏ méi yŏu sān jié kè.I don´t have three classes.

Questions• Question words change statements into

questions, word order remainsShéi shì Měiguórén?

Who is American?

• The modal particle „ma“ is used at the end of a sentence to turn a statement into a question

Tā shì Jīnní. Tā shì Jīnní ma?

She is Ginny. Is she Ginny?

• The particle „ne“ is used when the context is already known

Wŏ jiào Dōngní, nĭ ne?

I'm called Tony. How about you?

Time• Time is also indicated by using particles

– „le“ is used to indicate a completed action (perfect aspect) Tā zŏu le.

He has gone.

– „zhe“ added to a character indicates a continuous action Tā shuìzhe jiào shí yŏurén qiāomén

While he was sleeping, someone knocked on the door.

– „liăo“ (homograph of „le“) is used to indicate the capability to do s.th.

– „zháo“ (homograph of „zhe“) is used to indicate accomplishment

Possession

• The particle „de“ is used to indicate possessionTā de míngzi shì Jīnní.

Her name is Ginny.

(lit. „She her name is Ginny“)

Measure Words

• most specified or numbered nouns must be preceded by measure words which are specific to the type of object

„ge“ - genarel measure word

„tóu“ - for big animals exept horses

„zhī“ - for smaller animals exept snakes and fish

„liàng“ - for vehicles

„jiàn“ - for clothing and furniture

„zhāng“- for flat things (paper, tables)

…

[number] [measure word] [noun] yí liàng chē = one car èr zhī gŏu = two dogs

If you want to know more

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chinese_(Mandarin)