The issues of pronunciation and usage affect the ability to use either English or Chinese. In English, usage takes precedence in most cases. If the usage is close, the listener will understand the meaning even if the pronunciation isn't quite what's expected.
But in Chinese, variations in pronunciation can reflect quite different meanings. This is due to the fact that Chinese is a tonal language. In English, changes in tone reflect the emphasis of the speaker, not the core meaning of words. In Chinese, changes in tone can indicate completely different words. For example: In English, if you pronounce a word with a rising tone, it usually indicates a question; a falling tone will indicate a statement. English may also use tone to convey emotion. In Chinese, 'ma' pronounced with a rising tone can mean 'numb' while "ma" pronounced with a falling tone can mean 'to condemn;' 'ma' pronounced with an even tone means 'mother' but pronounced with a combination falling-rising tone, it can mean 'horse' or it could be someone's family name.
