Chinese: Background Language Learner F–10 Sequence / Levels 7 and 8 / Understanding / Language variation and change
Content description
Understand how language is used to reflect different roles, relationships, settings and values and modify language use in diverse contexts
Elaborations
observing interactions and identifying examples of how language is adapted as the roles and positions of participants are established, for example, moving to more formal language once a participant is identified as a person of authority
reading texts such as 《人民日报》, and identifying words and phrases used to establish authority, objectivity and the purpose of interaction
noticing and describing differences in accent and dialect when listening to Chinese speakers from diverse regions
exploring the use of l as a lingua franca in Chinese-speaking communities, and identifying terms used in different regions to express a similar idea, for example, 普通话 versus l versus 高手
interpreting the relationships of participants in a spoken interaction by observing word choices and gestures, for example examining what titles are used for individuals in Chinese (for example, 老张 / 张校长/张小明)
comparing 褒义词，贬义词 and 中性词 and the contexts they are used in, for example, the differences between 聪明 and 滑头
