Olympic fun-facts: Beijing is pronounced with a plain old "j" - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

ottopilot · 08-08-2008, 05:41 PM

OK Olympic fans, in case you didn't know...

Here's a little tutorial on the correct pronunciation of China's capital city Beijing.

Although it sounds exotic to folks here in Waddy Peytona (and to CNN announcers) to pronounce the "j" like the French "j" (in the song Frère Jacques), they are wrong. It's just a plain old English sounding "j".

My nephew lives in Beijing and is married to a Chinese woman. During a visit some years ago, I remember she commented on how English speaking people almost insist on pronouncing it with the French "j"... sometimes to point of correcting her (not necessarily Americans).

Charlatan · 08-08-2008, 06:34 PM

When I want to sound French I just call it Peking...

ottopilot · 08-08-2008, 06:44 PM

cybermike · 08-09-2008, 12:15 PM

My J isn't stressed and I guess it would sound more like the French J but it's more due to my heavy Kentucky accent I have to consciously change my accent to say the J normally . Nobody should complain about my pronunciation when they can't even pronounce Louisville correctly!

dlish · 08-09-2008, 01:09 PM

ching ching beijing bling bling

thse guys annoyed the crap out of me..its like i dropped a coin on the floor and they make the sound for it 'bay-jing'.

Anxst · 08-09-2008, 01:44 PM

I always pronounced it correctly, but I watch a lot of subtitled Wuxia movies, so I think I picked up correct pronounciation from them.

I did like the quick jingoism jab at we Americans, though.

It was just subtle enough to make me laugh.

Tully Mars · 08-09-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlish

ching ching beijing bling bling

thse guys annoyed the crap out of me..its like i dropped a coin on the floor and they make the sound for it 'bay-jing'.

This is why the good folks at HP included a stop button on my laptop.

SecretMethod70 · 08-09-2008, 05:47 PM

Don't forget their other Olympic fun facts!

YouTube - Two Chinese Characters: Jiayou ??? How...

YouTube - Two Chinese Characters: Olympic Cities

jorgelito · 08-09-2008, 06:43 PM

That's a great video, very well done. Don't know why some people found it annoying though. It's not that difficult.

Tophat665 · 08-10-2008, 08:51 AM

That could have been really really funny, but instead, after having watched half of one of the other ones, I feel like someone took a cheesegrater to my brain.

jorgelito - it's all in the intangibles - the way they look, speak, act. It's just slightly off and that's even worse than it bing obviously off. You can't point to any one thing and say, "There, that's why they suck," but if you're attuned to it the video is pervaded with a weak aura of suckage, and that is maddening.

08-08-2008, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
ottopilot capstan flanging Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waddy Peytona	Olympic fun-facts: Beijing is pronounced with a plain old "j" OK Olympic fans, in case you didn't know... Here's a little tutorial on the correct pronunciation of China's capital city Beijing. Although it sounds exotic to folks here in Waddy Peytona (and to CNN announcers) to pronounce the "j" like the French "j" (in the song Frère Jacques), they are wrong. It's just a plain old English sounding "j". My nephew lives in Beijing and is married to a Chinese woman. During a visit some years ago, I remember she commented on how English speaking people almost insist on pronouncing it with the French "j"... sometimes to point of correcting her (not necessarily Americans). __________________ "All the leaders of groups tend to be frauds. If they were not, it would be impossible for them to retain the allegiance of their dupes" - H.L. Mencken "continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it." - George Washington on political parties

08-08-2008, 06:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Charlatan Drinking Your Milkshake Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lion City	When I want to sound French I just call it Peking... __________________ “I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization.” - Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

08-08-2008, 06:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
ottopilot capstan flanging Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waddy Peytona	yes! __________________ "All the leaders of groups tend to be frauds. If they were not, it would be impossible for them to retain the allegiance of their dupes" - H.L. Mencken "continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it." - George Washington on political parties

08-09-2008, 12:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
cybermike Why So Serious? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Wut?	My J isn't stressed and I guess it would sound more like the French J but it's more due to my heavy Kentucky accent I have to consciously change my accent to say the J normally . Nobody should complain about my pronunciation when they can't even pronounce Louisville correctly! __________________ (All opinions subject to change without warning.) "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

08-09-2008, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia/UAE	ching ching beijing bling bling thse guys annoyed the crap out of me..its like i dropped a coin on the floor and they make the sound for it 'bay-jing'. __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere "Romance is never having to apologize for getting it in her hair" - World's King

08-09-2008, 01:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Anxst Has no fucking clue Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Madison, WI	I always pronounced it correctly, but I watch a lot of subtitled Wuxia movies, so I think I picked up correct pronounciation from them. I did like the quick jingoism jab at we Americans, though. It was just subtle enough to make me laugh. __________________ Work is the curse of the drinking class. - Oscar Wilde, Irishman Extraordinaire Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness. - Terry Pratchett

08-09-2008, 06:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	That's a great video, very well done. Don't know why some people found it annoying though. It's not that difficult. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

08-10-2008, 08:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tophat665 The Evil Midnight Bomber wot Bombs at Midnight Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Northeast Jesusland	That could have been really really funny, but instead, after having watched half of one of the other ones, I feel like someone took a cheesegrater to my brain. jorgelito - it's all in the intangibles - the way they look, speak, act. It's just slightly off and that's even worse than it bing obviously off. You can't point to any one thing and say, "There, that's why they suck," but if you're attuned to it the video is pervaded with a weak aura of suckage, and that is maddening. __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.