How to say the names of China's new leaders

Tal
November 17, 2012, 12:45 AM posted in General Discussion

I have an impulse to share this pleasingly straightforward piece from the BBC News website. Some pertinent content methinks.

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SF_Rachel
November 17, 2012, 01:35 AM

Myself, I am simply tickled pink that the BBC has a "pronunciation unit."

 

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Tal

呵呵, I so agree, a delightful circumstance 对吧? The eclectic entries in their archive can also make for pleasant perusal.

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SF_Rachel

Archive specifically of the pronunciations of said Pronunciation Unit (sounds so ... martial! Like they're issued sturdy boots upon joining up.) or simply archives of the Magazine Monitor? I would love to take a gander at the former, but all I see is the latter.

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Tal

Ah yes, it seems I've been confusing the two, and that won't do. The Pronunciation Unit has a long and illustrious history though sadly I could find no information on the regulation footwear. Though lacking the eclectic whimsy I referred to earlier John Wells' Phonetic blog might be to the taste of Pronunciation Unit wannabees and language fiends.

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SF_Rachel

Awesome, thanks for the links. I wondered if it was related to the old Shaw group for pronouncing English "properly," and so it is. In my youth somehow I encountered a great story about them. Shaw was (of course) arguing with the group about the proper pronunciation of "canine," himself advocating KAY 9 because that's how his dentist pronounced it. The others objecting that if so, surely his dentist must be an American, he replied, "Of course -- I still have all my teeth, don't I?"

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Tal

So American dentists (even then) were famous for their skills. I think this history needs retelling.

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SF_Rachel

I hope you can forgive me for finding a British teeth joke (perpetrated by an Irishman) amusing. I unreservedly concede that the justice of such humor is at least four decades past its expiration date.

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Tal

呵呵, 没问题!I enjoyed the joke, reminded me of the first Austin Powers film, the first time I became aware of how Brits, (even of the sexy super-talented type) can be 'dentally challenged' compared to our trans-Atlantic cousins! Rock on! Oh and I so wish I had had an American dentist!

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SF_Rachel

Well, my brother always had American dentists but he looks like he got hit in the mouth with a hammer and a can of shoe polish, so ... maybe he's British!