Re: Lingwa de Planeta (LdP) introductory course

On Aug 4, 2007, at 9:12 PM, Eugene Oh wrote:

> 2007/8/5, MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com <MorphemeAddict@...>:
>> In a message dated 8/4/2007 1:29:12 PM Central Daylight Time,
>> un.doing@GMAIL.COM writes:
>>
>>
>>> At the same time Mandarin does not use the labial glide in finals,
>>> only in initials as a consonant. The vowel series in "zuo4" is
>>> actually a falling opening diphthong - i.e. the main vowel is the
>>> [u]
>>> and the glide, if any, is [O].
>>>
>>
>> I have doubts about this interpretation of which part is the
>> glide.  I think
>> it's the 'u' in the middle.
>>
>> stevo   </HTML>
>>
>
> Personally I don't think there is a glide. Because the main vowel is
> the [u]: putting the emphasis on [O] is one way of sounding like a
> foreigner, particularly a Westerner. Besides, the difference is
> audible enough for one to surmise that the [u] is not quite a
> semivowel.
>
> Eugene
How do we determine what is and isn't a glide, in Chinese? It's my
understanding that stress as such doesn't exist there, so it doesn't
sound meaningful to me to suggest putting the stress on the /u/ OR
the /O/. Or am I wrong?