Table Of ContentLESSONS
IN THE
SH.L~NGHAI DIALECT
BY
白、
REV. F. L. HA九VKS POTT, D.D.
在y~~，ISED NptrIQN
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S俠、. - 立句,
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PRINTED AT THE COMMERCIAL PRESS, LTD,
SHANGHAI, CHINA
1924
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE NO. PAGE NO.
Al,ility to do . . 39, 56, 73 Numerals Ordinals 78
Abstract Nouns formed Passive Voice 35
of two Adjectives . . 109 Polite ]anguage 120
Adjectives . . . . . 8 Postpositions 19
Adjectives, Comparison Potential Mood 22
of . . . . . . . 82 Prepositions . . . 19
Adverbs, Interrogative 22, 30 Pronouns . 3, 52
Adverbs of Place and Time 35 Proverbs 125
Aspirates • . . . vi Questions, Asking 69
Classifiers 1 Reduplication of Verbs 27
Comparison of Adjectives 82 Reflexive Pronouns 27
Compass, Points of 86 Siαng, Use of 65
Compound Verbs 104 Subjunctive Mood 22
Connectives . 19 Time . 30, 78
Dzak, Use of 27 I "Time, There is or is not’, 56
Family Relations . 99 I Tones . . . . . . ix
Finals vii I Useful Phrases . 113, l 17
Gender 90 I Verbs . . . . . 15
Importance, Ex!iressions Verbs, Auxiliary • 44
I
as to 56 Verbs, Compound . 104
Initials vi I Verbal Idioms
Interrogatives . 11, 22 39, 56, 61, 65, 73, 78
Necessity, Expressions Vocabulary一Chinese
of 49, 61 English 128
Negatives 11 Vocabulary-English
“
Not At All" 61 Chinese 149
Numerals . 6, 52 ' vVeights and Measures 95
PREFACE
Ta time when there is much discussion in China as to
the desirability and possibility of the adoption of a
uniform language all over the Empire, it may seem
strange to put forth a book on the Sha日ghai Dialect.
The writer sympathizes fully with the aims of those ，司rho
would make Mandarin the Medium of Communication through
out China, but at the same time feels very strongly that a great
many years must pass before this can be accomplished.
Local dialects die hard, as witness the still existing varieties
of speech found in Great Britain. Even more perfect means of
communication binding the parts of a country closely together,
and even the 'introduction of a common language into the School
System, are not able of themselves to do away with the speaking
of the old local dialect. Men cling persistently to the speech
of their forefathers.
1月Then we reflect that the so-called Shanghai Dialect is in
reality the ancient language of the Wu Kingd9m, and is perhaps
more closely akin to the original language of the Chinese people
than Mandarin, we can understand why it will last Jor. many
years.
Further, it has a very wide range. Although local var甘ties
occur every few miles, yet in the main the Shanghai Dialect is
understood by at least 20,000,000 people.
For the missionary working in the Kiangsu Province n
knowledge of the local dialect is indispensable, and the acquisi
tion of it would be most useful for all those whose lot is cast in
this part of China. Foreigners living in Shanghai would find it
a great advantage to speak the native language, and in tlieii·
ll PREFA CX
busiues滔 :t•elations with the Chinese would be greatly helped if
they could converse in something better than the jargon known
as "Pidgin’, English.
It is for the purpose of making the attainment of a speaking
knowledge of the language somewhat less di伍cult that the writing
of this book has been undertaken.
It has seemed to the writer that the acquisition of a knowl
edge of the written characters, and of the spoken lnngunge are
two distinct things. One may learn to speak the language
without being able to read the characters.
By the use of the clear and simple System of Romanization,
adopted by missionaries in Shanghai, it is possible to represent
approximately all the sounds employed in the dialect.
In these lessons this system is adopted, and the student is
urged to master it thoroughly. If he will do so, he can use these
lessons ai1d learn to speak the language even without knowing
the characters.
The characters of the words and sentences employed are given,
but they are put in the book for the benefit of the Chinese
teacher. It would be unwise to trust entirely to the Romaniza
tion. The student in using the book should have a teacher by
his side, who by reading the Chinese corresponding to the
romanized sounds can give him a clearer idea of the pronuncia
t1on.
Although in a sense the book is a short cut to learning the
spoken language, of course it is not meant to discourage the
student from mastering the written language. This is however,
扎 distinct study, and should be undertn ken in a di宜erent way.
'!'be best method for this will be to use a primer in vernacular
containing the most familiar characters, and· then to advance
from it to the reading of the New Testament or other books in
the vernacular. Vernacular books should be read first, for
l>REFAcE Ill
the reading of the回 will be a great assistance in learning the
spoken language. After the fitst yei1r, books in the literary
style (W在n-li) should be begun.
In using this book, the first thing to be mastered thoroughly
is the introductory matter. The student must get this first, for
it is the key to the rest of the book. He must also learn to
distinguish the tones, and the inflections of the voice which they
imply. Then he will be ready 切 get on with the lessons.
Although the book is divided into thirty lessons, it is not
expected that the student will be able to master a lesson a day.
’
Some of the lessons will require three or four days work.
In putting the English sentences into Chinese, the best plan
would be to write out in the Romanization what the student
thinks the proper way of translating them would be. Then these
sentences may be read to the teacher, who will correct them, and
from the Chinese text will be able to tell the right way 的 say
them.
At present only thirty lessons are published. The writer
hopes, however; if the method proves to be useful, to extend
these lessons still further in the future.
In preparing these lessons, many books have been consulted,
especially the lessons by Dr. Yates, which contain a most useful
collection of words and sentences, and have long been the stand
ard book for learning the Dialect; the Grammar by Dr. Edkins
which contains a mass of useful informa七ion in regard to the
structure of the language, and the Mandarin Lesrnns by Dr.
Mateer, a roost exhaustive work on spoken Chinese.
’
The writer s thanks are due especially to Rev. J. A. Silsby
for the permission to make use of his clear st&tement oi the
Shanghai System ofRomanization; and to Prof. F. Q; Cooper for
many suggestions uhd ~he 七rouble he has taken in reading the
proofs.
lV. .PREFACE
The un-f ailing courtesy of Rev. :G. F. Fitch, ··r;>. D;, Messrs,
Gilbert Mcintosh and C. 而T. Douglass has been much appreciated
in the care they have taken in seeing the book through t.be preξs.
F. L. H.P.
January 1st, 1907.
THE. REVISED EDITION
The compiler of these lessons is gratified to find that they
have proved useful to students of the Shanghai Dialect. He
regrets that he has been too much occupied to prepare additional
lessons.
In reprinting them care has been taken to make the necessary
corrections. The copy used by the late Prof. W. O'B. Harding
has been of great service in the work of revision, as in it almost
all the errors in tone marks, punctuation, and typography had
been noted. Dr. A. W. Tucker has very ki_ndly compiled th?
vocabularies at· the end of the book, and in tl:iis way has en
hanced its value.
’s
The author thanks are due to all those who have give11 him
suggestions and pointed out mistak臼．
F. L. H.P.
April 28th, 1909.
NEW EDITION
In preparing the new edition, the author has received most
valuable help from hjs collearue, Prof. F. C. Cooper. The two
uew lessons were 1:n~gu品ted by him, and the one containing
