Chinese
China has been well-described as a civilisation masquerading as a country, and my grandparents are from the southern coastal part of the spectrum. The stereotype is that we like to work very hard, think entrepreneurially, are extremely motivated, and prepared to delay today’s gratification for tomorrow’s benefit.
I’ve the privilege of growing up with this most beautiful and elegant language. Mandarin’s my mother tongue, and since I’m half Hakka and half Teochew, I can still understand dialects I used to speak with my grandparents. I do most of my thinking in English now, but I often switch to Mandarin when I’m totally at ease, or when I’m exceptionally frazzled – I still count in Mandarin. And I adore the written word in Chinese.
Like the words category, this will have to be a sprawling part of my domain, there’s just so much to put down.
For a start, you can head over to the BBC Discovering Music archive, and listen to the piece on Chen Yi. I love her arrangement of 茉莉花 (from 2min53sec):
好一朵茉莉花，
好一朵茉莉花，
满园花开香也香不过它。
我有心采一朵带，
又怕看花的人儿骂
好一朵茉莉花，
好一朵茉莉花，
茉莉花开雪也白不过它。
我有心采一朵带，
又怕旁人笑话。
好一朵茉莉花，
好一朵茉莉花，
满园花开比也比不过它。
我有心采一朵带，
又怕来年不发芽。
What a beautiful jasmine flower,
What a beautiful jasmine flower --
The entire garden blooming is not as fragrant as she is.
I think of plucking one blossom to keep by my side
yet I'm afraid the one guarding her will berate me.What a beautiful jasmine flower,
What a beautiful jasmine flower --
When she blooms the snow is not as white as she is.
I think of plucking one blossom to keep by my side
yet I'm afraid of teasing and mockery.What a beautiful jasmine flower,
What a beautiful jasmine flower --
The entire garden blooming cannot hold a candle to her.
I think of plucking one blossom to keep by my side
yet I'm afraid she will not put out shoots the year after.
The BBC piece also gives a good introduction to traditional Chinese instruments with a smattering of myths thrown in. Good stuff.