I started Chinese classes three days ago. Now, I get why no one understood me when I was trying to use the transliterations printed in my guide book. Not only did my tones stink, I was pronouncing the base words all wrong.
Turns out that even in transliteration, letters do not correspond completely. For instance, the word 'fuxing' as in fuxing park, featured in the video below, is pronounced 'fooshing' and the word 'ren' as in people, is pronounced 'jren'.
Seth and I were sure we were saying 'tang', the word for soup, correctly. Turns out that, depending on the tone, 'tang' can mean to lie down, sugar, soup, or boiling. Yikes!
Today, I used my newly acquired Chinese to order pork dumplings, 'ji rou'. Hilariously pronounced 'jew ro'. At dinner, I took many of my new words out for a spin. I asked if they had roast duck, chinese cabbage, sweet and sour soup, rice, or, chicken, beef, or veggie dumplings. We only ordered a subset of these dishes. The waitress was getting a kick out of my tongue twisting attempt at proper pronunciation, so I decided to try my luck with my fancy new word 'xiguazhi', 'watermelon juice'. Turns out we were in luck, and the waitress brought out two delicious glasses of freshly smashed watermelons.
Here is your Wednesday morning video. More dancing from fuxing park.
"Fuxing Park" can be mispronounced even in English... :)
AnnaG said...
July 1, 2009 at 10:12 PM
So... was that the mariachi song that I think is called Cielito Lindo or the "Ay ay yaya canta y no llores" song. Anyways I need a lesson just to pronounce the words as I read them to Elana. It is very easy to tak fuxing park to a non G-rated version when reading aloud to a 4 year-old. But I'm glad to know that I pronounced it right when I made up what to tell her it was called.
BroDave said...
July 2, 2009 at 5:06 AM
I just replayed the Fuxing Park video. You are right David. I always "sang" that song when we were in Mexican restaurants. I didn't realize that's what I was listening to. Guess the Maracas were a giveaway.
arleen said...
July 2, 2009 at 6:50 AM
I should use the 'how would I mispronounce this' strategy to improve my Chinese.
The fuxing dancers were also dancing to 'Way Down South' but we didn't get that on video.
On my run today, I ran past a large group of senior women sword dancers. They take up nearly the entire path. I narrowly squeeze around them. On my second lap, I started wondering whether weapons regulations are more relaxed in China. Those swords might be real! Yikes.
Liz said...
July 2, 2009 at 7:49 AM