Eaters Guide to Chinese Characters

James D. McCawley

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Chinese

Chicago University Press
01 May 2004

Writing skills; National & regional cuisine; Languages & ESL; English as a Second Language; Chinese - Cultural Material; Chinese - Beginner Self-Study; Chinese - Phrase Books; Chinese - Languages

"Lauded by Calvin Trillin as a man who ""does not have to make to with translations like 'Shredded Three Kinds' in Chinese restaurants,"" in The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters, James D. McCawley offers everyone a guide to deciphering the mysteries of Chinese menus and the opportunity to enjoy new eating experiences. An accessible primer as well as a handy reference, this book shows how Chinese characters are written and referred to, both in script and in type. McCawley provides a guide to pronunciation and includes helpful exercises so users can practice ordering. His novel system of arranging the extensive glossary—which ranges from basics such as ""rice"" and ""fish"" to exotica like ""Buddha Jumps Wall""—enables even the beginner to find characters quickly and surely. He also includes the nonstandard forms of characters that often turn up on menus.

With this guide in hand, English speakers hold the key to a world of tantalizing—and otherwise unavailable—Chinese dishes."

By: James D. McCawley
Imprint: Chicago University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 20mm, Width: 13mm, Spine: 2mm
Weight: 312g
ISBN: 9780226555928
ISBN 10: 0226555925
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 01 May 2004
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

James D. McCawley (1938-99) was the Andrew MacLeish Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics and East Asian Languages at the University of Chicago.

Reviews for Eaters Guide to Chinese Characters

"""Unlike some of the rest of us, McCawley can enter a Chinese restaurant secure in the knowledge that his digestion will not be impaired by the frustration of watching Chinese customers enjoy some succulent marvel whose name the management has not bothered to translate. . . . McCawley does not spend half the meal staring at his neighbor's bean curd with that particularly ugly combination of greed and envy so familiar to--well, to some of the rest of us. . . . McCawley endeavors to free the non-Chinese-speaking eater forever from the wretched constriction of the English menu."" Calvin Trillin, New Yorker--Calvin Trillin ""New Yorker"""