Chinese: Second Language Learner 7–10 Sequence / Levels 7 and 8 / Understanding / Language variation and change
Content description
Identify traditional phrases and contemporary terms in everyday language use and the role of technology in changing the way people communicate
Elaborations
discussing contexts where 繁体字 and 简体字 are used in Chinese-speaking communities today and exploring the use of these scripts as an expression of local identity, for example, in Hong Kong and Taiwan, or in local temples, signs and newspapers
understanding the nature of and reasons for the simplification process by analysing and comparing characters in both systems (简体字 and 繁体字), for example, 门-門;国-國;这-這
appreciating the role of myths, legends and 成语 in contemporary language use, for example, reading texts containing 成语, such as 井底之蛙，画龙点睛 within 成语故事, and discussing their intended meaning, and the cultural importance of classical language employed in contemporary contexts
discussing how languages influence each other, for example, how foreign concepts are represented in Chinese; interpreting the meanings of transliterations such as 可口可乐, translations such as 热狗, and hybrid forms such as 因特网
noticing the use of English phrases and sentences in Chinese interactions (for example, 拜拜, or a few lines of English in a Chinese pop song), and discussing the reason for the ‘code-switching’
