"University-level to Super-expert" literacy

[ever.arevalo.70_16919]

I know that out there somewhere is somebody who posseses an unbelievable ability to read Chinese literature Cantonese-style; I mean someone who could open up a Classical Piece of Literature and read it without the aid of a dictionary. What would be the specific steps to progress towards that level. Also how do Hong Kong children learn pronunciation and tone of characters? I hear they do not use romanization. What are some of the specific methods that they use to commit the characters (pronunciation & tone too) into long term memory?

Thank you
Best Wishes

[ill_marketing_intern]

That's right, we learned Cantonese with the characters, and we never use romanization. When we were young we had to memorize a lot of Chinese characters and the vocabularies it can become, as well as their different pronunciations.
It's easier to start from learning about the radicals 部首: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_(C ... characters)
So every word is a combination of radical(s) and components, kind of like a puzzle. A single character can convey one or more meanings, that's why we need to use so many of them.

Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com

[ever.arevalo.70_16919]

Dear Ms. Olivia:
Thank you for the real, straight-forward answer. I just feel as if when reading, instead of associating a character naturally with a meaning and a sound (pronunciation), I have to access somewhere in my my memory, a romanization, and an additional number. It adds more steps to "character-recollection" than what Native-Chinese actually use. Please do not take this as a complaint, as I am only venting. If you have any additional advice, it would be immensely appreciated.

Thank you
Best Wishes

[ill_marketing_intern]

In that case, maybe you can try learning the Chinese characters from Chinese based materials instead of an English one?
Found this Chinese site (Mandarin & in Simplified Chinese writing system) offering textbooks to download: http://www.hwjyw.com/textbooks/downloads/zhongwen/
Hope you'll find it useful.

Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com

[ever.arevalo.70_16919]

Thank you Ms. Olivia

I am indebted to you. The only way I can think of repaying you is to do Cantonese justice by wholeheartedly immersing myself in learning, mandarin second. Cantonese is number one.
Thank you