The sounds of the tones of course can only be learnt from the Chinese
teacher.
The Bing-sung is an even tone, the voice being level, with a slight
falling inflection, as when we say “Come,” “Hear,” in our imperatives.
The Zang-sung in the upper series is a twanging sound, and sounds
something like the vibration of a string of a musical instrument.
In the lower series it has a wave sound which can be symbolized to the
eye by the curve [illustration: horizontal line with a dip in middle];
the voice first falls and then rises.
The Chui-sung has the same sound in both the upper and lower series.
The voice rises much as it does when we ask a question.
The students should practise with the teacher on the following table
of sounds, and in time will be able to distinguish the tones clearly
and to make the proper inflection himself. Foreigners are seldom able
to perfect themselves in the use of tones, but this is due not so much
to inability as to the lack of attention paid to the matter at the
beginning of the study of the language.
It should be understood that the names of the tones are those of the
original tones and often bear no relation to the inflection now used,
which varies in different localities.
Complete List of Initials and Finals used in the Shanghai Dialect.