Posted by Norm on February 18, 2003 at 11:46:25:
In Reply to: Re: How do you pronounce Vienna Teng? posted by eric on February 15, 2003 at 22:58:55:
: it's a reasonable question, i'd say.
: ahem. *dons knowing airs*
: Chinese is usually Romanized in one of two ways: using the "Pinyin" system or the "Wade-Giles" system.
: depending on the system used, "Teng" would be pronounced differently. if "Teng" were Romanized via Pinyin, it would be correctly pronounced sort of like the English word "tongue". (would rhyme with "feng" in "feng shui".) in Wade-Giles, it would be pronounced sort of like the English word "dung".
: then there's the American um, system, which doesn't necessarily have anything to do with anything, but in this case also doesn't make for an uncomfortable homophone. this is how it's "officially" pronounced. it rhymes with "beng" in "bengal tiger". now *that's* sexy. raarr.
: ;)
Very interesting! I did not know this - and I'm Chinese! But I am also embarassed when I go to a Chinese restaurant and can't speak the language. So I'll just use the "American system" to say Vienna Teng.
Using a southern drawl, say "Ou est La Tour Effiel?" :)