Beginning Chinese Reader, Part 2

This comprehensive guide introduces learners to various forms of Chinese, emphasizing traditional and simplified characters, making it an essential resource for students. Beginning Chinese Reader, Part 2 continues the exploration.

The Beginning Chinese Reader, Part 2 serves as a comprehensive guide to the various forms of Chinese language, emphasizing the distinctions between traditional and simplified characters. This second edition builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, offering a detailed exploration of the main varieties of Chinese that emerged before and after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The author carefully contrasts variant usages, providing additional context and material relevant to contemporary China, ensuring that learners grasp the nuances of the language effectively.

One of the key features of the Beginning Chinese Reader, Part 2 is its innovative approach that integrates the oral-aural method, allowing students to engage with written Chinese more quickly and efficiently. The text emphasizes the importance of compounds, presenting 1,200 combinations derived from 400 characters. This extensive use of compounds is reinforced through a variety of exercises, including illustrative sentences with English translations, dialogues for audio-lingual practice, and narrative forms. Supplementary materials such as maps and excerpts from notable writers enrich the learning experience.

To accommodate beginners, the book introduces characters in a large format, along with stroke sequence tables for clarity. The inclusion of a pinyin index and summary charts categorizing characters by lesson, stroke count, and radical enhances the learning process. Additionally, the text contrasts regular and simplified characters, presenting variant forms for better understanding. Due to the extensive material covered, the Beginning Chinese Reader, Part 2 is published in two volumes, ensuring a thorough and structured learning experience for students of Chinese.