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From: deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Pronouncing your name in another language
Message-ID: <1995Jan20.132941.802@midway.uchicago.edu>
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Reply-To: deb5@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
References: <9501423.14645@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU> <rharmsen.138.00046F62@knoware.nl> <3fmken$abc@netaxs.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 13:29:41 GMT
Lines: 22

In article <3fmken$abc@netaxs.com> jenster@netaxs.com (jenster) writes:
>Ruud Harmsen (rharmsen@knoware.nl) wrote:
>The
>difficulty in reading Wade-Giles is that what would appear in Pinyin as
>"bi" and "pi" respectively (omitting tone markings for simplicity's sake),
>would appear in Wade-Giles as "pi" and "p'i".  This could easily lead one
>to believe that the two initial sounds are both unvoiced, and that
>difference is one of aspiration.  

As well it should, because that is the proper contrast.  W-G was not 
designed the way it was by accident.  B,d,g,etc. are not used because
there are no voiced stops in Beijing Mandarin.

>This is also why Taipei is spelled as it is, despite the fact that the 
>second syllable begins with a voiced, unaspirated sound.

Where did you learn this?

-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
