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Book review/interview with local authors and professors
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Local Grand Rapids authors and Calvin College professors Larry Herzberg and Qin Xue Herzberg have just released the new book Chinese Proverbs and Popular Sayings: With Observations on Culture and Language (978-1-933330-99-0).
They would be happy to discuss their new book, their experiences interpreting Chinese culture for western audiences, how they share Chinese culture with the Grand Rapids community and more.
A little about the new book: Chinese Proverbs and Popular Sayings is an artfully curated collection of over 500 proverbs in Chinese, pinyin and English translation, capturing the essences of Chinese language, culture and thought. Designed as much for inspirational browsing as for travelers and students, this book contains a selection of both ancient, earnest sayings ("A thousand-mile journey starts under your feet") and the homespun truths of today ("Teachers open the door; you enter by yourself"). Organized thematically, the text includes thoughtful commentary on how the proverbs reflect the historical Chinese worldview. False or poorly-translated sayings attributed to the Chinese are corrected, and Chinese expressions borrowed from the West are noted and celebrated. Overall, this book is a great resource for people who love proverbs, or for anyone interested in Chinese culture in general.
Qin Xue Herzberg is a native speaker of Chinese and a graduate of Beijing Normal University in Chinese Language and Literature. She is an upper-level Chinese language professor at Calvin College. Larry Herzberg studied Chinese for five years at Vanderbilt University before doing his Master's and Ph.D. work in Chinese Language and Literature at Indiana University. In 1980 he founded the Chinese Language Program at Albion College and then did the same at Calvin College in 1984. For the past three decades he has taught the Chinese language at the college level, and in 2011 he received the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching, Calvin College's highest honor to professors. Larry and Qin have previously coauthored books on culture (China Survival Guide) and language (Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar), and they are experts on interpreting Chinese culture for Western travelers, students, and Sinophiles.
More about the new book, Chinese Proverbs and Popular Sayings, can be found at the website here. I would love to send you a review copy, and would be happy to put you in touch with the Herzbergs.
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