Two or Three?

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#200149 Thu, 23 Feb 06 01:01 PM

Hi，all!

A sentence (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-01/20/content_510851.htm) introducing the Chinese New Year reads, “In south China, the favorite and most typical dishes were nian gao, sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding and zong zi (glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves), another popular delicacy ”. As an English learner, I am a bit confused whether two or three dishes are mentioned in the sentence, even though I am a native Southerner myself. As far as I know, In south China, we have nian gao for the Chinese New Year. zong zi is for the Dragon Boat Festive. And I do not know what “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” is.

My question is, is “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” an appositive modifying “nian gao” or another kind of dishes from the grammatical view? If there are two dishes only, why does “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” have no parentheses like “glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves” ; If there are three, does anyone know what “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” is or in which area of south China it is popular? And, can the word “another” in the sentence determine whether there are two or three dishes mentioned?

Thanks!

Joined on Sat, Nov 8 2003

Mainland China

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海内存知己，天涯若比邻。 Where there’s a good friend, there’s a small world.‎ ‎Al

Clive

#200161 Thu, 23 Feb 06 02:01 PM

Hi Al,

“In south China, the favorite and most typical dishes were nian gao, sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding and zong zi (glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves), another popular delicacy ”. As an English learner, I am a bit confused whether two or three dishes are mentioned in the sentence, even though I am a native Southerner myself. As far as I know, In south China, we have nian gao for the Chinese New Year. zong zi is for the Dragon Boat Festive. And I do not know what “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” is.

My question is, is “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” an appositive modifying “nian gao” or another kind of dishes from the grammatical view? another kind of dish If there are two dishes only, there are 3why does “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” have no parentheses like “glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves” ; If there are three, does anyone know what “sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding” is or in which area of south China it is popular? Sorry, I don't know. However, in the west, the English word glutinous is not an attractive adjective to apply to food. And, can the word “another” in the sentence determine whether there are two or three dishes mentioned? . No. 'another popular delicacy' refers to zong zi

In other words, I read this list as a form of 'the dishes were A, B and C.'

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,190)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Anonymous

#200449 Fri, 24 Feb 06 09:37 AM

Unlike Mr. Clive, I take the article to be mentioning the two dishes, nian gao and zong zi, and no others. The writer decided to use parentheses for the appositive "glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves" because s/he didn't want to use two commas to set off the two sets of phrases that are explaining/mentioning zong zi.

Here,

... and zong zi, glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves, another popular delicacy.

By writing like this, the reader would be confused to what "another popular delicacy" is referring to and to avoid that tenuous situation, the writer decided to use parentheses for "glutinuous rice wrapped in reed leaves."

That's my take on the matter and personally, I don't think "another popular delicacy" is necessary or much less needed in the sentence above eventhough the writer thought it is necessary for it to be there.

Anonymous

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