Module talk:zh/data/dial-syn/媽媽-2

Classical Chinese

@The dog2 We seem to have different understanding of the term "Classical Chinese". Classical Chinese doesn't mean old-fashioned Chinese I find exotic and difficult to understand. The language used in historical Chinese dramas is not Classical Chinese as Classical Chinese ceased being spoken after the Han dynasty. According to Hanyu Da Cidian, the earliest attestation of 娘親 may be in 元曲, which is already a mixture of literary and vernacular Chinese, hence the revert. RcAlex36 (talk) 03:20, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

@RcAlex36: I still think these archaic terms should be covered as synonyms though. How do you suggest we do that? The dog2 (talk) 03:21, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

@The dog2: I suggest that you do not add any more words to the Classical Chinese section if you have had little exposure to Classical Chinese. @Justinrleung, any suggestions. RcAlex36 (talk) 03:23, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

@RcAlex36, The dog2: I'm envisioning something like a breakdown by era, but I don't know how achievable that is and whether it is worthwhile. — justin(r)leung _{{ (t...) | c=› }} 04:03, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

@RcAlex36: Speaking of Classical Chinese, if what you mean by that is 文言文, my understanding is that it was the official written language of China even in the Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period. The push to make vernacular Mandarin the standard written language did not happen until after World War I. In fact, the Taiwanese national anthem is still in 文言文. And likewise, standard Mandarin became the first standard spoken language in China only after World War I. The dog2 (talk) 04:53, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

@The dog2: 三國演義 is a mix of literary and vernacular Chinese, while 水滸傳 is written in vernacular Chinese. Not everything before the Republic of China era was literary Chinese. Please do not forget all those 明清小說. RcAlex36 (talk) 04:57, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ @RcAlex36: Yes, I am aware of those, as well as 西遊記 and 封神榜. My understanding is that good vernacular novels of that time are rare, because they were considered low class, and the top intellectuals of society mainly wrote in classical Chinese. And why these novels are so celebrated today is also partly because of just how rare they were. The dog2 (talk) 05:00, 2 February 2021 (UTC)