What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese
The current study investigates the use of a dramatic text to teach spoken Chinese grammar in casual conversation. By analyzing the language used in The Teahouse (1957), a classic Chinese play, this study identifies features of spoken Chinese grammar with a focus on the distinct structures of functio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages |
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| Online Access: | https://ncolctl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/vol-37-p3.pdf |
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| author | Jianfei Chen |
| author_facet | Jianfei Chen |
| author_sort | Jianfei Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current study investigates the use of a dramatic text to teach spoken Chinese grammar in casual conversation. By analyzing the language used in The Teahouse (1957), a classic Chinese play, this study identifies features of spoken Chinese grammar with a focus on the distinct structures of functionally motivated casual conversation. Utilizing Cullen and Kuo’s categorization of spoken grammar (2007), the analysis offers a new perspective on spoken Chinese, highlighting the interpersonal nature of casual conversation and its implications for teaching spoken grammar. The findings indicate that The Teahouse can serve as a valuable resource for presenting advanced spoken Chinese to students, providing rich models and contextual knowledge. This suggests that incorporating the play as an authentic source of casual conversation in class may significantly enhance students’ understanding and production of spoken Chinese grammar in a meaningful way. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01cce3ef2bde4a3e90dc5d9734890045 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1930-9031 2689-2979 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages |
| spelling | doaj-art-01cce3ef2bde4a3e90dc5d97348900452025-08-20T03:58:00ZengNational Council of Less Commonly Taught LanguagesJournal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages1930-90312689-29792024-12-0137113160What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational ChineseJianfei Chen0George Mason UniversityThe current study investigates the use of a dramatic text to teach spoken Chinese grammar in casual conversation. By analyzing the language used in The Teahouse (1957), a classic Chinese play, this study identifies features of spoken Chinese grammar with a focus on the distinct structures of functionally motivated casual conversation. Utilizing Cullen and Kuo’s categorization of spoken grammar (2007), the analysis offers a new perspective on spoken Chinese, highlighting the interpersonal nature of casual conversation and its implications for teaching spoken grammar. The findings indicate that The Teahouse can serve as a valuable resource for presenting advanced spoken Chinese to students, providing rich models and contextual knowledge. This suggests that incorporating the play as an authentic source of casual conversation in class may significantly enhance students’ understanding and production of spoken Chinese grammar in a meaningful way.https://ncolctl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/vol-37-p3.pdfchinese casual conversationdramatic text of a chinese playspoken chinese grammarteaching chinese as a foreign language |
| spellingShingle | Jianfei Chen What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages chinese casual conversation dramatic text of a chinese play spoken chinese grammar teaching chinese as a foreign language |
| title | What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese |
| title_full | What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese |
| title_fullStr | What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese |
| title_full_unstemmed | What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese |
| title_short | What can we learn from The Teahouse? Exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational Chinese |
| title_sort | what can we learn from the teahouse exploring the spoken grammar in a drama text as a resource for teaching spoken conversational chinese |
| topic | chinese casual conversation dramatic text of a chinese play spoken chinese grammar teaching chinese as a foreign language |
| url | https://ncolctl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/vol-37-p3.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jianfeichen whatcanwelearnfromtheteahouseexploringthespokengrammarinadramatextasaresourceforteachingspokenconversationalchinese |