Why Not Ask Why? (Lesson 441)
On the last two pages, the author says that asking “why” doesn’t actually help people to learn a language. Of course, I agree with this viewpoint. The reason is simple. The language just as a tool, the meaning always came from the people’s communication. In fact, often asked why there is no answer. I think, it’s unnecessary to ask the why in language learning process.

There are many metaphors and overstatings in real language use. In fact, many of the using reasons are not even known to the native speakers. Native speakers are just speaking in a language, it’s naturally and even alogical. The following is a Chinese idiom–“ri xing qian li”. This meaning was came from the very long age ancient. At the beginning it was said to describe the speed of the horse. The Chinese character meaning was a horse could run one kilometre everyday. Let think about, how is this possible? Obviously, it’s impossible and alogical. The idiom only a metaphor. That is just a description of the high speed.

Next, let’s talk about the social convention. There are many special social conventions in every language. Chinese is no exception. As a foreigner of the Chinese learner firstly started to learn Chinese and they would learn a phrases that “shuo caocao caocao dao”. OMG, what is this means? Why are there two caocao? What is caocao?
China has a long history, so Chinese characters always like to metaphor from ancient or historical figures. Caocao is a famous historcal figure, he was good at fight wars and strategies. But the phrase above now actually had nothing to do with caocao. It’s means a person was appear in front of someone unaware, always describes a person who is fast or it’s just a coincidence.
So look at the meaning, and look at the phrase “shuo caocao caocao dao”. As the author said in the book, sometimes asking why is an unnecessary extra burden for a language learning. At this phrase, you just remember the modern meaning, and grasp the chance to use it, dig the grooves in your mind. For example, you have just talk with lucy about lily was so happy. And suddenly lily came to here, and said hi to them. What a coincidence! At that time, you would said “shuo caocao caocao dao” and greeted lily. It’s fun,right?

So let’s communicated in language and learned more and more new idioms through the daily using.