CHINESE 210--FALL 2009
Characteristics of the Chinese Language
漢語概要
(Hannyeu gayyaw)
[Hànyŭ gà̀iyào]
Course Information and Syllabus

Texts | Course Requirements | Weekly Schedule

Instructor: R. VanNess Simmons  [back to Simmons' main page]

Office: Scott Hall 330
Office Phone: (732) 932-5597 / (732) 932-7605
Office Hours: W 11:15-12:15

Class meeting times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5th period--2:50-4:10pm
Classroom:  Murray Hall 111 (College Avenue)

This is a general lecture course about the Chinese language. No previous knowledge of Chinese is required. However, students without a background in Chinese are strongly encouraged to also take a Chinese language course. Whether or not you do study Chinese, you should be prepared to learn much of the Chinese that is presented as examples in the lectures and readings.

During the course we will discuss the sounds and word structure of modern standard Chinese, the history of Chinese, the Chinese writing system, Chinese dialects, the relationship of Chinese to nearby languages, and modern language planning, reform, and standardization. In learning about the characteristics of Chinese and the history of the language, you will acquire a knowledge of what the Chinese is like and how it is organized and used. This knowledge will enhance your interest in Chinese and will facilitate your learning of Chinese should you choose to study it now or in the future.


Textbooks
Required: Optional/Recommended:
The above texts should both be available from the University Bookstore at One Penn Plaza, opposite the New Brunswick train station, and possibly from New Jersey Books as well.

To be placed on reserve at Alexander (in addition to the above two), for supplementary reading and reports:

General Course Requirements

Attendance: Attendance is of utmost importance and you are expected to come to every class. Beginning with the second class you miss, your final grade will be lowered by 1/3 of a grade for each day you are absent without bona fide medical or religious cause.

Assignments: In addition to the readings, you will be required to join in preparing a group project that will be presented near the end of the semester.  Each group will be given 5-10 minutes per person/group member for their presentations (for example, a 3 person group will have up to half an hour).  The presentation will include a written report that the group should write together.  Reports should be 4-6 double-spaced pages per person and will be due Tuesday, December 1st.  The report must follow normal conventions of style for college term papers and must include a bibliography.  Your reports should cite at least 3 non internet sources.  If internet sources are used, you can only cite facts they contain or paraphrase their arguments.  All sources must be properly documented.  All members of any group that turns in a paper that includes material copied from sources without proper attribution -- or contains any content that is copied and pasted from internet sources (don't think I cannot tell) -- will be given a final course grade of F, period.  You may be creative with your group projects: they may be on a topic or theme regarding any aspect of Chinese language that is of common interest to the group.  Some ideas that you can consider include:

Possible formats for your group project and written report include: In addition, there may be occasional other written assignments. Assignments must be handed in on time; late papers will not receive credit.

Quizzes: There will be two quizzes. The first will be on the sound system of modern standard Chinese and the pīnyīn Romanization system. The second will be on the map of China, and the distribution of the Chinese dialects. I will provide you with further information on these quizzes in class. No make-ups will be given for missed quizzes.

Exams: There will be a midterm and a final exam covering the material presented in class lectures and the readings.

Grading: Final grades will be based on attendance and attentiveness in class, written assignments and the group presentation/report, quiz results, the midterm, and the final. Your final grade will be calculated approximately as follows:

  1. attendance 10% (or more)
  2. assignments/report 20%
  3. quizzes 10%
  4. midterm 30%
  5. final 30%

CHINESE 210--FALL 2009

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Week 1--T9/1 & Th9/3 ++ Week 2--(T9/8 NO Class) & Th9/10  ++ Week 3--T9/15

Sounds of the Modern Standard Language

Readings: Quiz 1: Th9/24 -- the sound system of modern standard Chinese and the pinyin Romanization system.

Week 3--Th9/17 ++ Week 4--T9/22 & Th9/24++Week 5--T9/29 & Th10/1

The History of Chinese (4-5 days)

Readings:

Week 6--T10/6 & Th10/8 ++ Week 7--T10/13 & Th10/15

The Writing System

Readings: Midterm: T10/13

Week 8--T10/20 & Th10/22 ++ Week 9--T10/27 & Th10/29

The History and Development of the Writing System (continued)

Week 9--Th10/29

Group Presentation Discussion & Planning

Week 10--T11/3 & Th11/5 ++ Week 11--T11/10 & Th11/12 ++ Week 12--T11/17

The Chinese Dialects (±5 days)

Readings: Quiz 2: T11/10 -- The map of China, and the distribution of the Chinese dialects.

Week 12 & 13--Th11/19 & T11/24

The Chinese Dialects (continued, if necessary)
Chinese dictionaries (as time allows)

Reading:

Week 14--T12/1 & Th12/3

Group Presentations

Written presentation group report due: T12/1

Week 15--T12/8 & Th 12/10

Review discussion: Language planning, reform, and standardization (as time allows)

Readings:

Additional Topics for Self-Study: FINAL EXAM: Monday 21-Dec 4:00-7:00 PM in Murray 111
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