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Category Archives: youtube

The Onion in… Zhonglish?!

On maintaining political correctness when other people’s languages still sound funny

New Mexico, USA — Christmas, 1978. In the wrapping paper-strewn living room of grandma’s house, after the midday dinner, the adults are engaged in the safe banter of nostalgia, the children, including nine-year-old syz, engrossed in the newly acquired toys, tools and trinkets.
There is no [...]

Posted 22 December 2008 † syz § linguistics § tones § zhonglish ‡ Comments (7) °

L=N, a sound you won’t hear in Beijing

A sound you almost certainly will get to hear in Beijing someday, if you’re so fortunate, is the sound of Lǐ Chuányùn 李传韵 fiddling. The Qingdao native is a world phenomenon and the recipient of a loan instrument from the Stradivari society. What you won’t hear from Beijingers, though, is his particular flavor of Mandarin. [...]

Posted 08 March 2008 † syz § L=N conflation § beijing-r § běijīnghuà § érhuàyīn ‡ Comments (36) °

Wàiguórén xué zhōngguóhuà

Thanks to S.H.E. we Zhonglish-speakers now apparently have our own hit song, complete with rap lite and formulaic key change in the last refrain. Hat tip to Granite Studio for the reference to the song as it was performed for the new year.
Key phrase:
全世界都在学中国话
quán shìjiè dōu zài xué zhōngguóhuà
The whole world is learning Chinese

Posted 17 February 2008 † syz § MFL § běijīnghuà § zhonglish ‡ Comments (1) °

Zhonglish — Revenge of the Non-Native English Speaker

The first in a series [see all Zhonglish posts]. Part 1 — Tones
There’s really nothing fair about growing up as a native English speaker. The world wants to learn your language, no credit to you. But you, personally, get to reap all the benefits. You are invited to go to exotic places like oh, say, [...]

Posted 28 January 2008 † syz § tones § zhonglish ‡ Comments (20) °