How Vietnam Got Its Latin Script
The Vietnamese alphabet, Quốc Ngữ, presents a fascinating paradox with its Latin letters used for a tonal, Austroasiatic language. Originally created by 17th-century Catholic missionaries to spread their faith, the…
Tag: tones
The Chameleon Tone: Unlocking the Musical Logic of Mandarin’s Tone Sandhi
Mandarin is famously a tonal language, but what many learners quickly discover is that the tones they memorize often change in mysterious ways during conversation. This isn't a mistake—it's a…
What Makes Mandarin Chinese Difficult to Learn?
Learning a new language is always a rewarding yet challenging endeavor, and Mandarin Chinese is no exception. Touted as one of the most difficult languages...