Chinese: First Language Learner 7–10 Sequence / Levels 9 and 10 / Understanding / Language variation and change
Content description
Explain how changes in context impact on how language is adapted to convey meaning within and across languages
Elaborations
exploring how living in the Australian context impacts on how they present their ideas in Chinese, for example, considering how essays written in Chinese in Australia often follow the accepted organisation and formatting of essays in the Australian education system rather than the Chinese education system
analysing what is valued across cultures and discussing the impact of this on how meanings are conveyed in Chinese and English, for example, quoting 孔子 or using 成语 is evidence of a higher level of literacy in Chinese, but quoting modern-day experts or using technical vocabulary is considered to be reflective of a higher education level in many English-speaking communities
understanding the historical traditions behind the differences between oral and written language in Chinese ( 文言 and 白话)
reflecting on their own different ways of communicating and how they adjust language, gesture and content to suit different contexts, cultures and languages, for example, considering topics that are acceptable in one culture but taboo in another
identifying differences in pronunciation and/or tone across different Chinese-speaking environments, for example, 和 is pronounced ‘hé’ in mainland China but can be pronounced as ‘hàn’ in Taiwan
