Mandarin writting?

[Joda]

This may be, or rather is, as strange place for this kind of question, but it is called general discussion, so I guessed it was ok? Anyhow, I plan on starting at chinese (Mandarin) evening courses at the end of summerholidays next year, since I plan to read to a candidate degree (5 years at uni) in mandarin. If I have the basics I can take Chinese A (High-level preparational starter-language chinese.) in less time after preparational school. So, here comes my question, I need to write mandarin when I start, and if I have to write assignments on 2 pages or more writting them in my hand will make me crazy, so I wanted to know if anyone knows a program that will translate e.g. Pinyin into standard mandarin characters?

I know this is a little strange place to be asking, sorry :/.
Thank you!

[Frasbee]

Nope, can't help ya.

[Psycam]

Windows XP by default, if you install the East Asian languages through the languages sub-menu in Control Panel, will allow you to type Chinese (and just about most other langauges) in programs. Just make sure you have the East Asian languages installed, enabled under the Keyboard section (also in Windows Control Panel), and that the language toolbar is enabled after completing all these steps (PM or IM me if you need further assistance).

However, if you are truly interested in learning Chinese, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend you spent a LOT of time writing out the characters, because learning to write Chinese is about 50% of the challenge of learning the language itself. You think learning to speak and read is hard -- learning to write properly and efficiently (so that your writing actually looks somewhat native) is a whole different level. Doing things on the computer is not going to do you good. Just my $.02.

[Joda]

I'm sure, but if I want to be anything as a translator or something, especially with a 5 year degree, my handwritting just isn't enough, though I am of course going to excercise it, learning to write the native characters. But I found out, cool Thanks a lot. I'm just gonna test it with the Cliché: mā 妈 má 麻 mǎ 马 mà 骂.
Again, thanks a lot. It's going to be helpful when it comes to the point where my class stops using Pinyin .

Great regards
Jonas Høiberg Nielsen.

[Chlorine]

Joda----"I need to write mandarin when I start, and if I have to write assignments on 2 pages or more writting them in my hand will make me crazy,"

Like Psycam suggested, Windows XP and type into MSWord with the language setting on Mandarin (simplified). IMHO though, it's tedious to use MSWord because the computer tries to guess ahead of you and inserts words that you don't really want. I only used it when my teacher demanded that we type out our assignment. Some of my classmates just wrote it out.

Writing is actually much faster once you are familiar with the characters. You will need to learn to write because so much of the language is expressed through the characters. Over the years they changed the teaching of mandarin so many times with emphasis on memorising to pin yin back to memorising.

At the end of the day it is just practice and more practice. I find when I don't practice writing, I forget even simple words because it's all based on memory.

[Cybog]

Please see the thread titled "Asians" for full details on this topic.

[Illusional]

i would think that you could order it online.

raverboy

[Joda]

That's great all, I appreciate it, but my problem got solved with the 2nd response.
Now I have another problem as to chinese, but I didn't want to make a new thread just on that basis, since this is inside the subject. You see, I have a problem hearing the difference and making the difference between the "High level tone" (Mā ) and The "High rising tone" (Má) and in addition to that I have a problem making/hearing the "Low dipping tone" when it comes after another section (or what the name is, can't remember) like in Nihǎo where it has to stay put on tone 1 for the last half. I always make a little rising there instead of keeping it steady after the drop. Can anyone give me some pointers towards a good way to memorize and difference the tones I just mentioned?

Thank you