Chinese Language Romanization and Dialects

This lecture focuses on two segments: First, the Romanization of Mandarin through Ricci, Wade-Giles, and the postal system. Romanization means the writing of Chinese script in a way that those who do not know Chinese can understand it. The lecture speaks about different methods, their shortcomings and usage. Second, dialects and difficulty in understanding spoken language in various areas. The focus lies on having the same fundamental structure and syntax; however, pronunciation and speech make it impossible for a wider public to understand dialects. Overall, the lecture explores the relevance and consequences of differences in Mandarin in Romanisation and in dialects.