For more information contact:
Dawn Bratsch-Prince
Intern Associate Dean
Director, LAS International
213 Catt Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
515.294.1162
deprince@iastate.edu
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- AsianStudies News
Tsunami Shelterbelts - October 1, 2007
- Arun Barua - March 6, 2006
- Aili Mu - February 6, 2006
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David Bulla - January 23, 2006
Young Kihl - October 17, 2005
U.S.-Korea
Symposium - September 8, 2005
Indian
translator Arshai Sattar to be scholar-in-residence - January 25,
2005
India Study
Abroad - September 20, 2004
Aili Mu -
August 23, 2004
Research
Partnerships - February 26, 2004
Shu-min
Huang - January 26, 2004
Taiwan
Music Exchange - January 12, 2004
International
Area Studies Programs - November 17, 2003
Virtual
Hindu Temple - November 11, 2002
Balmurli
Natrajan - February 11, 2002
Peter Orazem - February 11, 2002
Carl Vondra - April 24, 2000
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- Chinese storytelling
Listening to Eric Shepherd speak Chinese, one hears a melodic sound.
"Chinese is a tonal language," said the assistant professor of world languages and cultures. "There’s a rise and fall to it. That’s the most difficult aspect for students learning Chinese."
The soft-spoken Ohio native has mastered the sing-songy, rhythm and rhyme of the language. That helped his popularity in China doing Shandong kuaishu – traditional storytelling.
Shandong is a northeast China province where Confucius was born. Kuaishu translates to "fast tale." The long narratives are punctuated by vivid gestures and expressions and the cadenced clicking of ban,
two small flat pieces of brass held in one hand for rhythm keeping.
Shepherd has performed for crowds from 12 to 35,000, part of popular Chinese variety shows featuring many acts. He could have been a celebrity in the province of some 90 million people. Instead he chose academics.
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