Preparation for a speech Use and structure
Lesson 32 第三十二课 Yfn 讲 Giving a speech 361
Preparation for a speech Practice 32A: Working with a partner, make a list in Chinese of all of the people you want to thank when you graduate. Next to each person or group of people, indicate in Chinese what you want to thank them for. Practice 32B: Working with a partner, write the introductory greetings for a formal speech that you might give at graduation. Then, revise the last paragraph of Dawei’s speech, making small changes so that it is appropriate for the audience that you will address. Finally, memorize your greetings and your new final paragraph, and take turns presenting your mini-speech to the class.
Use and structure 32.1. Four-character phrases in formal literary speech and writing Formal speech and writing are characterized by the use of structures and features not commonly used in conversational Mandarin. One feature is the use of four-character phrases. Composed of four characters/syllables, these phrases sometimes have their origins in a famous story or text. We have introduced a number of four-character expressions in previous lessons, noting those with literary origins as proverbs or fixed expressions. As is appro priate in a formal speech in Chinese, Dawei uses many four-character phrases, including 远道而来 come from afar, guAngyCn sìjiàn time flies, 严 gé 要 qiú strict demands, 热心照顾 warm-hearted guidance, 讨价还价 negotiate prices, and 点菜订餐 order food. Read through his speech again and find additional examples. The four-character phrase 点菜订餐 illustrates a feature of many four-character phrases: they are formed with two two-syllable phrases with identical meaning. In the phrase 点菜订餐, 点菜 and 订餐 each mean order food. Redundancy of this kind is characteristic of many four-character phrases in Chinese.
32.2. Indicating order in formal speech or writing: 首先 first, 其次 second, 最后 finally 首先 first, 其次 second, next and 最后 finally are often used together in formal speech or writing to indicate the order of events. We learned 首先 first and 最后 finally in earlier lessons. 首先 first and 其次 second tend to be used in relatively formal contexts. 最后 finally can be used in informal and formal contexts. 我首先 dài 表全体毕业生 xiàng 我们 zEnjìng 的老师们表 shì zhDng 心的感谢。 First, I represent all of the graduates in expressing our heartfelt thanks to our teachers.
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362 Routledge Course in Modern Mandarin Chinese Level 2
其次，我要感谢我们的中国同屋和朋友。 Second, I want to thank our Chinese roommates and friends. 最后，我要感谢我们的父母和家人。 Finally, I want to thank our parents and family members.
32.3. Subject xiàng NP VP do VP toward NP Xiàng is a preposition and means toward. It always occurs in the structure: subject xiàng NP VP 我 xiàng 我们 zEnjìng 的老师们表 shì 感谢。 I express my gratitude to our respected teachers. 火车 xiàng 上海开去。 The train is going toward Shanghai. 她很高兴地 xiàng 我 pFo 过来。 She happily ran toward me. Xiàng is often used in formal, literary speech and writing, though it can be used in ordinary speech and writing as well.
32.4. Parallel structures in formal speech and writing In this lesson we learn a number of features that characterize formal speech and writing. One very common feature is the use of balanced, parallel structures. Parallel structures are sentences or phrases that occur in sequence and have similar forms, similar or identical length, and either opposite or identical meaning. Here are three sentences from Dawei’s speech that involve parallel structures. For the first sentence, we have written the parallel phrases one above the other so that you can see their similarities. Both involve the structure 在 NP 上 AdjV + N. The phrases with opposite meanings are the AdjV + N phrases: 严 gé 要 qiú strict demands and 热心照顾 warm-hearted guidance. 他们对我们 Toward us they 在学习上严 gé 要 qiú， regarding our studies, (they) had strict demands, 在生活上热心照顾。 regarding our lives, (they) gave us warm-hearted guidance. For the second sentence, the parallelism is in the words dAn 心 worry and 放心 relax. As you can see, the Mandarin words are very similar in form, even though they are direct opposites in meaning. 他们从 dAn 心到放心。 They went from being worried (about us) to being reassured (not worrying) about us.
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Lesson 32 第三十二课 Yfn 讲 Giving a speech 363
In the third sentence, the parallelism is formed by the words zhDng 点 ending point and 起点 starting point. Like dAn 心 worry and 放心 relax, they are similar in form and pronunciation, and are direct opposites in meaning. 留学生活的结束是 zhDng 点也是起点。 The end of study-abroad life is also a starting point.
32.5. CL CL every (N) and 一 CL CL 的 N (N) after (N), a long string of (Ns) When classifiers are repeated, they convey the sense of a large number of successive nouns. The structure CL CL often means every (noun). 我天天都来得很早。 I arrive early every day. 她的衣服件件都很漂亮。 As for her clothing, every piece is very pretty. The structure 一 CL CL 的 N means (noun) after (noun). 一封封的电子 yóu 件、一个个的国际长 tú 电话 email after email, long-distance phone call after long-distance phone call
Narrative focus: Structure of a formal speech Formal speeches have three parts: a greeting, a body, and a closing. In speeches for closing ceremonies, such as the one that Dawei gives at his graduation ceremony, the body of the speech is often an extended expression of thanks to one or more groups of people. Formal speeches follow a formula, and in this lesson we learn the formula that will enable you to give a basic formal speech.
Part I. The greeting or salutation QCn 爱的(老师、同学和远道而来的家长们)，你们好！ Dear (____), hello! You can add your own audience here.
Part II. The body This is the heart of your speech. It often begins with a literary expression that expresses the theme of the event. In Dawei’s farewell speech, he uses the expression: GuAngyCn sìjiàn time flies like an arrow
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Preparation for a speech Practice 32A: Working with a partner, make a list in Chinese of all of the people you want to thank when you graduate. Next to each person or group of people, indicate in Chinese what you want to thank them for. Practice 32B: Working with a partner, write the introductory greetings for a formal speech that you might give at graduation. Then, revise the last paragraph of Dawei’s speech, making small changes so that it is appropriate for the audience that you will address. Finally, memorize your greetings and your new final paragraph, and take turns presenting your mini-speech to the class.
Use and structure 32.1. Four-character phrases in formal literary speech and writing Formal speech and writing are characterized by the use of structures and features not commonly used in conversational Mandarin. One feature is the use of four-character phrases. Composed of four characters/syllables, these phrases sometimes have their origins in a famous story or text. We have introduced a number of four-character expressions in previous lessons, noting those with literary origins as proverbs or fixed expressions. As is appro priate in a formal speech in Chinese, Dawei uses many four-character phrases, including 远道而来 come from afar, guAngyCn sìjiàn time flies, 严 gé 要 qiú strict demands, 热心照顾 warm-hearted guidance, 讨价还价 negotiate prices, and 点菜订餐 order food. Read through his speech again and find additional examples. The four-character phrase 点菜订餐 illustrates a feature of many four-character phrases: they are formed with two two-syllable phrases with identical meaning. In the phrase 点菜订餐, 点菜 and 订餐 each mean order food. Redundancy of this kind is characteristic of many four-character phrases in Chinese.
32.2. Indicating order in formal speech or writing: 首先 first, 其次 second, 最后 finally 首先 first, 其次 second, next and 最后 finally are often used together in formal speech or writing to indicate the order of events. We learned 首先 first and 最后 finally in earlier lessons. 首先 first and 其次 second tend to be used in relatively formal contexts. 最后 finally can be used in informal and formal contexts. 我首先 dài 表全体毕业生 xiàng 我们 zEnjìng 的老师们表 shì zhDng 心的感谢。 First, I represent all of the graduates in expressing our heartfelt thanks to our teachers.
9780415472500_Textbook_L32.indd 361
8/10/2011 9:06:19 AM
362 Routledge Course in Modern Mandarin Chinese Level 2
其次，我要感谢我们的中国同屋和朋友。 Second, I want to thank our Chinese roommates and friends. 最后，我要感谢我们的父母和家人。 Finally, I want to thank our parents and family members.
32.3. Subject xiàng NP VP do VP toward NP Xiàng is a preposition and means toward. It always occurs in the structure: subject xiàng NP VP 我 xiàng 我们 zEnjìng 的老师们表 shì 感谢。 I express my gratitude to our respected teachers. 火车 xiàng 上海开去。 The train is going toward Shanghai. 她很高兴地 xiàng 我 pFo 过来。 She happily ran toward me. Xiàng is often used in formal, literary speech and writing, though it can be used in ordinary speech and writing as well.
32.4. Parallel structures in formal speech and writing In this lesson we learn a number of features that characterize formal speech and writing. One very common feature is the use of balanced, parallel structures. Parallel structures are sentences or phrases that occur in sequence and have similar forms, similar or identical length, and either opposite or identical meaning. Here are three sentences from Dawei’s speech that involve parallel structures. For the first sentence, we have written the parallel phrases one above the other so that you can see their similarities. Both involve the structure 在 NP 上 AdjV + N. The phrases with opposite meanings are the AdjV + N phrases: 严 gé 要 qiú strict demands and 热心照顾 warm-hearted guidance. 他们对我们 Toward us they 在学习上严 gé 要 qiú， regarding our studies, (they) had strict demands, 在生活上热心照顾。 regarding our lives, (they) gave us warm-hearted guidance. For the second sentence, the parallelism is in the words dAn 心 worry and 放心 relax. As you can see, the Mandarin words are very similar in form, even though they are direct opposites in meaning. 他们从 dAn 心到放心。 They went from being worried (about us) to being reassured (not worrying) about us.
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8/10/2011 9:06:19 AM
Lesson 32 第三十二课 Yfn 讲 Giving a speech 363
In the third sentence, the parallelism is formed by the words zhDng 点 ending point and 起点 starting point. Like dAn 心 worry and 放心 relax, they are similar in form and pronunciation, and are direct opposites in meaning. 留学生活的结束是 zhDng 点也是起点。 The end of study-abroad life is also a starting point.
32.5. CL CL every (N) and 一 CL CL 的 N (N) after (N), a long string of (Ns) When classifiers are repeated, they convey the sense of a large number of successive nouns. The structure CL CL often means every (noun). 我天天都来得很早。 I arrive early every day. 她的衣服件件都很漂亮。 As for her clothing, every piece is very pretty. The structure 一 CL CL 的 N means (noun) after (noun). 一封封的电子 yóu 件、一个个的国际长 tú 电话 email after email, long-distance phone call after long-distance phone call
Narrative focus: Structure of a formal speech Formal speeches have three parts: a greeting, a body, and a closing. In speeches for closing ceremonies, such as the one that Dawei gives at his graduation ceremony, the body of the speech is often an extended expression of thanks to one or more groups of people. Formal speeches follow a formula, and in this lesson we learn the formula that will enable you to give a basic formal speech.
Part I. The greeting or salutation QCn 爱的(老师、同学和远道而来的家长们)，你们好！ Dear (____), hello! You can add your own audience here.
Part II. The body This is the heart of your speech. It often begins with a literary expression that expresses the theme of the event. In Dawei’s farewell speech, he uses the expression: GuAngyCn sìjiàn time flies like an arrow
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8/10/2011 9:06:19 AM
