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kiragecko · 7 months

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When I get into foreign media, one of the first things I do is study the names. Because being a nerd is fun.

My friend is writing extremely good Untamed fanfic, so I've spent the last week trying to figure out how to pronounce Mandarin. And then, despite the fact that y'all can just LISTEN to the show to hear the pronunciation, I decided to share my new knowledge.

I'm a historical linguist (I study how languages might have been spoken in the past) so I'm also including how these names might have been pronounced in Middle Chinese (4th-12th C).

We don't know exactly how things were pronounced then. But this story is set in vaguely historical fantasy China, so I want it to have some vaguely historical names.

Explanation of the symbols afterwards.

The Names

Hanzi (Chinese Characters) | English Translation/Pinyin | IPA (Phonetic transcription of sounds) | Respelling (Phonetic Transcription designed to be easier to understand for English speakers) (Middle Chinese Reconstruction: IPA | Respelling)

姑苏蓝氏 | Gusu Lan Clan | ku˥˥‧su˥˥‧län˧˥ ‧ʂʐ̩˥˩ | k��o-sōo lán ʂʐ̀

(kuo‧suo‧lɑm dʑiᴇˣ | kwo-swo lahm jyé)

云深不知处 | Cloud Recesses | yn˧˥‧ʂən˥˥‧pu˥˩‧ʈʂʐ̩˥˥‧ʈʂʰu˨˩˦ | éeᵘn-ʂə̄n-pòo ʈʂʐ̄-ʈʂǒo (ɦɨun‧ɕiɪm‧pɨu‧ʈiᴇ‧tɕʰɨʌˣ | hhyoon-sheem-pyoo ʈye-chyúh)

蓝启仁 | Lán Qǐrén | län˧˥ tɕʰi˨˩˦‧ʐən˧˥ | lán chěe-ʐə́n (lɑm kʰeiˣ‧ȵiɪn | lahm káy ñen)

青蘅君 | Qīnghéng Jūn | tɕʰiŋ˥˥‧xɤŋ˧˥ tɕyn˥˥ | chēeng-xóʸng chēeᵘn (tsʰeŋ‧ɦˠæŋ kɨun | tsaeng-hhang kyoon)

蓝景仪 | Lán Jīngyí | län˧˥ tɕiŋ˨˩˦‧i˧˥ | lán chěeng-ée (lɑm kˠiæŋˣ‧ŋˠiᴇ | lahm kyáng-ngye)

蓝翼 | Lán Yì | län˧˥ i˥˩ | lán èe (lɑm jɨk | lahm yeek)

云梦江氏 | Yúnmèng Jiāng Clan | yn˧˥‧mɤŋ˥˩‧tɕiɑŋ˥˥ ‧ʂʐ̩˥˩ | éeᵘn-mòʸng chyāhng ʂʐ̀

(ɦɨun‧mɨuŋᴴ kˠʌŋ dʑiᴇˣ | hhyoon-myòong kuhng jyé)

江厌离 | Jiāng Yànlí | tɕiɑŋ˥˥ jɛn˥˩‧li˧˥ | chyāhng yèn-lée (kˠʌŋ ʔiᴇmᴴ‧liᴇ | kuhng yèm-lye)

江枫眠 | Jiāng Fēngmián | tɕiɑŋ˥˥ fɤŋ˥˥‧miɛn˧˥ | chyāhng fōʸng-myén (kˠʌŋ pɨuŋ‧men | kuhng pyoong-maen)

魏长泽 | Wèi Chángzé | weɪ˥˩ ʈʂʰɑŋ˧˥‧tsɤ˧˥ | wày ʈʂáhng-tsóʸ (ŋʉiᴴ ɖɨɐŋ‧ɖˠæk | ngwèe ɖyuhng-ɖak)

藏色散人 | Cángsè Sǎnrén | tsʰɑŋ˧˥‧sɤ˥˩ sän˨˩˦‧ʐən˧˥ | tsáhng-sòʸ sǎn-ʐə́n (dzɑŋ‧ʃɨk sɑnˣ‧ȵiɪn | dzahng-sheek sáhn-ñeen)

兰陵金氏 | Lánlíng Jīn Clan | län˧˥‧liŋ˧˥‧tɕin˥˥‧ʂʐ̩˥˩ | lán-léeng chēen ʂʐ̀

(lɑn‧lɨŋ kˠiɪm dʑiᴇˣ | lahn-leeng keem jyé)

江厌离 | Jiāng Yànlí | tɕiɑŋ˥˥ jɛn˥˩‧li˧˥ | chyāhng yèn-lée (kˠʌŋ ʔiᴇmᴴ‧liᴇ | kuhng yèm-lye)

金光善 | Jīn Guāngshàn | tɕin˥˥ kuɑŋ˥˥‧ʂän˥˩ | chēen kwāhng-ʂàn (kˠiɪm kwɑŋ‧dʑiᴇnˣ | keem kwahng-jyén)

秦愫 | Qín Sù | tɕʰin˧˥ su˥˩ | chéen sòo (dziɪn suoᴴ | dzeen swò)

金子轩 | Jīn Zǐxuān | tɕin˥˥ tsz̩˨˩˦‧ɕyɛn˥˥ | chēen tsz-shyᵘēn (kˠiɪm tsɨˣ‧hɨɐn | keem tsée-hyuhn)

金子勋 | Jīn Zǐxūn | tɕin˥˥ tsz̩˦˥‧ɕyn˥˥ | chēen tsz-shēeᵘn (kˠiɪm tsɨˣ‧hɨun | keem tsée-hyoon)

莫玄羽 | Mò Xuányǔ | muɔ˥˩ ɕyɛn˧˥‧y˨˩˦ | mwò shyᵘén-ěeᵘ (mɑk ɦwen‧ɦɨoˣ | mahk hhwaen-hhyó)

金阐 | Jīn Chǎn | tɕin˥˥ ʈʂʰän˨˩˦ | chēen ʈʂǎn (kˠiɪm tɕʰiᴇnˣ | keem chyén)

清河聂氏 | Qīnghé Niè Clan | tɕʰiŋ˥˥‧xɤ˧˥‧niɛ˥˩‧ʂʐ̩˥˩ | chēeng-xóʸ nyè ʂʐ̀

(tsʰiᴇŋ‧ɦɑ‧ɳˠiᴇp‧dʑiᴇˣ | tsyeng-hhah ɳyep jyé)

岐山温氏 | Qíshān Wēn Clan | tɕʰi˧˥‧ʂän˥˥‧wən˥˥‧ʂʐ̩˥˩ | chée-ʂān wə̄n ʂʐ̀

(giᴇ‧ʃˠɛn‧ʔuən‧dʑiᴇˣ | gye-shen wən jyé)

温情 | Wēn Qíng | wən˥˥ tɕʰiŋ˧˥ | wə̄n chéeng (ʔuən dziᴇŋ | wən dzyeng)

温若寒 | Wēn Ruòhán | wən˥˥ ʐuɔ˥˩‧xän˧˥ | wə̄n ʐwò-xán (ʔuən ȵɨɐk‧ɦɑn | wən ñyuhk-hhahn)

温旭 | Wēn Xù | wən˥˥ ɕy˥˩ | wə̄n shèeᵘ (ʔuən hɨok | wən hyok)

温晁 | Wēn Cháo | wən˥˥ ʈʂʰɑʊ˧˥ | wə̄n ʈʂáhw (ʔuən ɖˠiᴇu | wən ɖyew)

王灵娇 | Wáng Língjiāo | wɑŋ˧˥ liŋ˧˥‧tɕiɑʊ˥˥ | wáhng léeng-chyāhw (ɦʉɐŋ leŋ‧kˠiᴇu | hhwuhng laeng-kyew)

Others

抱山散人 | Bàoshān Sǎnrén | pɑʊ˥˩‧ʂän˥˥ sän˨˩˦‧ʐən˧˥ | pàhw-ʂān sǎn-ʐə́n (bɑuˣ‧ʃˠɛn sɑnˣ‧ȵiɪn | báhw-shen sáhn-ñeen)

欧阳子真 | Ōuyáng Zǐzhēn | ʔoʊ˥˥‧jɑŋ˧˥ tsz̩˦˥‧ʈʂən˥˥ | ōw-yáhng tsź-ʈʂə̄n (ʔəu‧jɨɐŋ tsɨˣ‧tɕiɪn | əw-yuhng tsée-cheen)

SYMBOLS USED

Pinyin (English translation) | IPA symbols | Respelling | English Example

m | m | m | mind

n | n | n | need

N/A | ɳ | ɳ | 'need' with tip of tongue curled up

N/A | ȵ | ñ | canyon

ng | ŋ | ng | sing

N/A | b | b | bat

b | p | p | keep

p | pʰ | p | peek

N/A | d | d | deep

d | t | t | cat

t | tʰ | t | tack

N/A | ɖ | ɖ | 'deep' with tip of tongue curled up

N/A | ʈ | ʈ | 'cat' with tip of tongue curled up

N/A | g | g | goat

g | k | k | peek

k | kʰ | k | keep

N/A | ʔ | none | uh-oh (sound made in English when two vowels need to stay separate, and neither is a 'i' or 'u')

N/A | dz | dz | beds

z | ts | ts | cats

c | tsʰ | ts | tsunami

zh | ʈʂ | ʈʂ | 'cats' with tip of tongue curled up

ch | ʈʂʰ | ʈʂ | 'tsunami' with tip of tongue curled up

N/A | dʑ | j | jump (hold tongue like a 'y' then say 'j')

j | tɕ | ch | pitch (hold tongue like a 'y' then say 'ch')

q | tɕʰ | ch | check (hold tongue like a 'y' then say 'ch')

f | f | f | fig

s | s | s | sit

sh | ʂ | ʂ | 'sit' with tip of tongue curled up

x | ɕ | sh | ship (hold tongue like a 'y' then say 'sh')

h | x | x | loch

N/A | h | h | help

N/A | ɦ | hh | help with slightly more air

l | l | l | lamp

r | ʐ or ɻ | ʐ | 'zip' with tip of tongue curled up

y | j | y | yes

yu | ɥ | yᵘ | you ('y' with lips rounded like you're saying a 'w' or 'u')

w | w | w | wet

Vowels

i | i, ɨ, iɪ, ɨi | ee or y | see (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

i | z̩ | z | bzzz (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

i | ʐ̩ | ʐ̩ | bzzz with tip of tongue curled up (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

u | ɥ, y | eeᵘ or yᵘ | lips say 'sue', mouth says 'see'(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus) ⁹

u | u | oo or w | threw (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

u | uə | wə | threw up(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

N/A | ʉi | wee | weak(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

N/A | ɨo | yo | yore(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

iu | ioʊ | yow | yoke (Amer/Can), between yore and yoke (Brit/Aus)

io | iʊ, ɨu | yoo | pure (Amer/Can), cute (Brit/Aus)

o | uo, uɔ | wo | wart (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

N/A | əu | əw | about (Can), starting as 'comma', ending as 'goat' (Amer) , no (Brit/Aus)

ou | oʊ | ow | soul(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

a | ä, æ | a | lad(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

a | ɑ | ah | arm (Can), palm (Amer/Brit), my without the 'e' (Aus)

N/A | ʌ | uh | run (Amer/Can/Brit), 'comma' (Aus)

a | ɛ | e | bed (Can/Amer/Brit), between 'lad' and 'led' (Aus)

ao | ɑʊ, ɑu | ahw | now (Can), 'palm' + 'w' (Amer/Brit), starting as 'my', ending as 'soul' (Aus)

N/A | ɨæ | ya | yap(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

ia, ya | iɑ | yah | yard (Can/Amer/Brit), yikes without the 'e' (Aus)

ia, ie | iɛ, iᴇ | ye | yes (Can/Amer/Brit), between 'yap' and 'yep' (Aus)

N/A | ɨʌ, ɨɐ, jɨɐ | yuh | yuck (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

yua, ua | ɥɛ, yɛ | yᵘe | lips say 'wet', mouth says 'yet' (Can/Amer/Brit), lips say wet, mouth says between 'yap' and 'yet' (Aus)

iao | iɑʊ | yahw | yard + 'w' (Can/Amer/Brit), yikes + 'w' (Aus)

N/A | ɨæ | ya | yap(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

ua | uä, ua | wa | wack(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

ua | uɑ, wɑ | wah | warm (Can/Amer/Brit), white (Aus)

N/A | ʉɐ | wuh | won(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

uai | uaɪ | why | wide (Amer/Can) wack + 'y' (Brit), way (Aus)

N/A | uɛi | wey | wet + 'y' (Can/Amer/Brit), between 'way' and 'wed' (Aus)

e | ə | ə | comma (Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

e | ɤ | oʸ | lips say 'wore', mouth says 'yore'(Can/Amer/Brit/Aus)

e | e | ae | day without 'y' (Can/Amer/Brit), bed (Aus)

ei | eɪ | ay | day (Can/Amer/Brit), bed + 'y' (Aus)

N/A | we | wae ¹⁰ | way without 'y' (Can/Amer/Brit), wed (Aus)

ui, wei | ueɪ, weɪ | way | way (Can/Amer/Brit) , wed + 'y' (Aus)

N/A | iᴇu, jiᴇu | yew | yes + 'w' (Can/Amer/Brit), between 'yap' and 'yep' + 'w' (Aus)

N/A | wiᴇ | wye | ??

N/A | iuɪ | ywee | ??

N/A | iuᴇ, jiuᴇ | ywe | ??

N/A | iuᴇi | ywey | ??

(The 'i's at the beginning of the last 3 are there to distinguish them from other sounds, but we don't actually know how they're pronounced. Same thing with all the extra 'j's and 'w's in the Middle Chinese transcriptions.)

Other Symbols

ˠ - say the sound while back of tongue is raised.

ᴴ, ˣ - the 2 marked tones of Middle Chinese (third 'tone' is syllables with 'p', 't', or 'k' at the end, final tone is unmarked). It's uncertain what they were, but the guess is 'ᴴ' was low and 'ˣ' was high.

ó, ò, ō, ǒ | ˧˥, ˥˩, ˥˥, ˨˩˦ - Modern Mandarin tones. I'm ADHD and can't hear my own tone and volume, so I am have no help for you.

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #linguistics #mandarin #middle chinese #historical linguistics

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