Expert: Terry Thatcher Waltz - 12/11/2011

Question
I've just started with Mandarin and have an assignment which requires me to write the pronunciation (using M.P.S.)and meaning of a list of radicals. How does one find out how to pronunce radicals? Thanks in advance.

Answer
Well, first let me say -- what a useless assignment! You're clearly in a very traditionally taught program. What does this have to do with YOUR language learning goals? Has anyone asked you about your goals? (Probably not.) How much Mandarin can you speak? None? Sheesh. I'll bet they've had you in a lab for a week repeating "the sounds of Mandarin" too, without having any idea what you're saying.

5,000 glorious years of Chinese language teaching -- the same 100 years repeated 50 times. :-(

MPS, too. I hope at least you're in Taiwan, where MPS has some use. Shita? NTU?

Okay, my rant is finished. ;-)

Since you need this for your assignment, here's a handy online reference:
http://mandarinposter.com/radicals/

HTH
Terry