User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: U-Turn

@helen

老师，‘在路边停车很’方便,谢谢 láoshī, zài lù biān tíngchē hěn fāngbiàn xièxiè.. (Laoshi, 'pull over' is a very useful phrase, thanks.)  

可以说，师傅，靠边停车。 kěyǐshuō, Shīfu, kàobiān tíngchē (Can I say, Sir, pull over)?  这个句子没有在，对吧？ zhège jùzi méiyǒu zài, duìba? (There is no 'zai' required in this expression, right?)

而且，在你的句子没有请！ érqiě, zài nǐ de jùzi méiyǒu qǐng  (Also, in your sentence there is no 'please'!)   :-)   

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Oh, I missed the meteor shower!  And I have a good view of the low east sky.  Of course normally our skies are so clear here, but tonight they seem to be a little hazy!  We have a number of large infrastructure projects underway that are kicking up the dust (all in the name of 'response to the Global Financial Crisis'.)  :-)  

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Changye

Sorry - I missed your previous comment.  You are right on that score - that is what I have been saying.  We don't do an 'English transliteration', we say the Chinese word.  我同意! 

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Correct - but they are not helped by transliteration conventions, which, if followed, makes my name incomprehensible to even a native English speaker!  They are hampered by being limited (by convention) to sounds that occur in Chinese, their native tongue.  However, when I say their name I am not hampered by convention in this way - I have learnt how to say their name using Chinese sounds.  I am not limited to sounds that occur in my native tongue.  

It is interesting that this phenomenon concerns mainly Proper Nouns.  They are not so limited when speaking English in general.     

Posted on: Buying a Bike

@wenjong

Thanks on your run-down on bicycles in Canada - I have to say your discussion about bicycle helmet safety is unconvincing but i just wanted to wish you the very best for your language learning.!!  And your bicycle riding; ride safely.  

And I am intrigued about what a 'moto' is - is that like a European 'moped'?  (A lightweight scooter affair that has both an electric motor and pedals? - It's called a 电动车 diandongche in China.)     

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Hi Changye

My very next sentence addresses this matter - I admit that everyone is not schooled in pinyin.  

Let's say I meet someone in China - they have been learning English for say fifteen years and they have achieved a high level of competence in the language.  When I address this person in China their name sounds beautifully authentic.. :-)  [This is a hypothetical.]  When they say mine in 'English' it is cause for much mirth (apparently.)  I am suggesting that this common occurrence (for me) is due to a cultural difference; to different deeply held values.  Values which are no doubt reflected in language education.  Values that are reinforced by transliteration conventions applied by the language bureaucracy.    

Posted on: Buying a Bike

Carlos 

So it is Carlos-in-China, not Carlos-in-Irvine?  

Wenjong

Thanks for your comments on helmets.  If regulations for bicycles are made in view of rider comfort, why not for motorbikes?  But if true, it kind of proves my point that it is a political not technical argument!  I sacrifice some comfort on my bike in the interests of staying alive.  

I was kind of interested that you'd been to 'motorcycle' classes. In Australia riders are taught to constantly do 'head checks' (turn the head to check the traffic.)  Failing to do this on a riding test, before eg. changing lanes, means automatic failure.  From your comments it seems that Canada does not have these regulations.  On my motorbike your feet are further from the ground than on a bicycle.  Also, my seat height is similar to a bicycle.   

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Hi Changye

I understand that if you choose to transliterate an English name in Chinese that you will end up with more syllables than in English.  My first point is that this is often done very poorly - the character chosen is not a good representation of the English. That is fact - examples are not hard to find. A Chinese atlas of Australia provides good source material.    

Secondly, I assert that there is a kind of systematic disregard for better linguistic solutions.  I have tried to speculate on the reasons for this.  

Tal (in his post way back, 3 days ago) makes this same point better than me.   

We (in Australia at least) do not transliterate Chinese names into English - we use pinyin. Of course not everyone is schooled in pinyin, but officially that is how Chinese names are pronounced in Australia.   

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

@simonpettersson,jimijames

Thanks for all your comments.  You're right, Roma does sound pretentious, unless you're talking about Roma Bar where I used to get my coffee - or is that also pretentious?  :-)  I don't think I was trying to boast about my pronunciation - it is a pretty pointless place to boast.  To effectively boast I would need to be recognised - fortunately that doesn't happen here.  However, this is a conversation between learners of Chinese language so I am not constrained by how most of the population behave.  When I say 'we' make an effort to pronounce Chinese names properly I mean foreigners learning/speaking Chinese.    

Chinese people are generally very interested in names, Chinese names.  I do feel sorry about the 'Rebecca' story - it's a little like a Chinese man working in Australia being referred to as 'Charlie Chan' or the like.  A slightly amusing name that sets you apart and reminds you that you are a foreigner.  I always encourage Chinese people I know living in Australia to use their Chinese names; if they insist on an English name I try and help them with a name that avoids attracting ridicule.  

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Hi Changye

I must be explaining this very badly.  No, I am simply referring to the transliteration of Western names often being very poor transliterations.  My friends don't do this - it is the 'faceless bureaucrat' who gets the job of converting my English name into something that Chinese people can easily pronounce.

With a bit of effort, the Chinese could say my family name in English (but don't.)  I make an effort with their names; I make a point of using Chinese names in my classes.  The practice of them adopting an English name is time-consuming for me - nine times out of ten they cannot recognise the name in spoken English, or even forget what the name is - some use multiple English names. (I take this approach because I am not an English teacher.)       

On a similar point, my wife, who is an English teacher, insists that her Chinese students learn how to say her name in English (it is a challenge.)  There is a common Chinese transliteration of her name but she does not want them to use Chinese sounds to say her name - because it is all part of learning a different language.