'Bay-jing’ or 'Bay-zhing’? Which is right? | Entertainment | Star-Telegram.com
'Bay-jing’ or 'Bay-zhing’? Which is right? | Entertainment | Star-Telegram.com: "In the shadow of Olympic venues, Brian Williams has anchored NBC’s Nightly News in a city he calls Bay-jing. Yet Bob Costas and many of NBC’s sports announcers seem to be in Bay-zhing.
So which is it? Williams is right, if you talk to experts in the Chinese language. He’s even recorded something about the pronunciation puzzle for NBC’s Web site, although it doesn’t seem to be required viewing for everyone at the network.
'It’s been annoying me for quite awhile, honestly,' said S. Robert Ramsey, a college professor and author of The Language of China.
Does it really matter? Think how Tony Soprano would feel if you said he lived in New Zhersey. You’d get strange looks if you order zha-va at your local coffee shop.
Beijing used to be known as Peking to English speakers. It officially changed in 1949, when the new Communist government adopted the pinyin transliteration method for proper names, according to Logoi.com.
Williams said he asked around when he got to China. Everyone he spoke to used 'jing.' He said he’s tried to honor that, while admitting to a few slips.
'It’s all about being a good guest,' he said."
So which is it? Williams is right, if you talk to experts in the Chinese language. He’s even recorded something about the pronunciation puzzle for NBC’s Web site, although it doesn’t seem to be required viewing for everyone at the network.
'It’s been annoying me for quite awhile, honestly,' said S. Robert Ramsey, a college professor and author of The Language of China.
Does it really matter? Think how Tony Soprano would feel if you said he lived in New Zhersey. You’d get strange looks if you order zha-va at your local coffee shop.
Beijing used to be known as Peking to English speakers. It officially changed in 1949, when the new Communist government adopted the pinyin transliteration method for proper names, according to Logoi.com.
Williams said he asked around when he got to China. Everyone he spoke to used 'jing.' He said he’s tried to honor that, while admitting to a few slips.
'It’s all about being a good guest,' he said."
posted by CP @ 10:29 AM
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