[Le Temps, Switzerland]
Global Geographic
Times, People's Republic of China
U.S. and Beijing
Disagree on Obama's Chinese Name
Is there some hidden intention on the part
of the U.S. in seeking to have the commonly used Mainland Chinese name for
President Obama changed? According to this article by Dr. Jiang Huai for the
state-controlled Global Geographic Times, the implications of the Chinese
characters involved raise suspicions.
By Scholar Jiang Huai (江淮学者)
Translated by Jimmy Chow
November 13, 2009
People's Republic of China - Global
Geographic Times - Original Article (Chinese)
What’s the best name???
On November 12, officials at the U.S. Embassy in China told reporters that the U.S. president’s name had been changed. (The president’s name is written with three
Chinese characters, and they wanted to change the first so that, when read out
loud, it sounds more like “Oubama” (欧巴马) instead of “Aobama” (奥巴马)). Embassy
officials explained that this transliteration was closer to the English. Is
this just about an American word, or is there something else going on here?
[Editor's Note: Taiwan uses
the Oubama (欧巴马) variant that the U.S. Embassy is promoting.]
In fact, from the Mandarin Chinese
point of view, there's precious little difference between the two names. “Aobama” was just a name people gave him
on their own that has been followed up to now. In China, one need not accept a
name. But if one doesn’t wish to use the name given by the Chinese, he or she
should at least explain how it disrespects them or why they don't like it.
So in wanting to make this change, it seems on the surface to reflect that
the U.S. doesn't want to listen to China, the U.S. has its own ideas and so on.
Of course, this could also mean that U.S. relations with China aren't as good as they
appear on the surface. In fact, the best explanation is that there are many
cracks in relations that are being covered up.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Global Times, China:
Chinese Netizens Have 'Sharp Words' for President Obama
China Daily, China:
Obama Can Teach
Shanghai Officials
a Thing or Two
China Daily, China:
VIDEO - Chinese React to
Visit of President Obama
Global Times, China:
'Obscene Postcard' Emerges
of Taiwan President and Hillary
The Times, U.K.
Obama's Bow to Japan Emperor
Shows U.S. 'Confidence'
The Telegraph, U.K.:
Obama 'Breaks
Conciliatory Tone';
Criticizes China Censorship
The Australian, Australia:
Obama's Personal Story No
Substitute for Policy in Asia
Globe & Mail, Canada:
China 'Plays Down' President Obama's Visit
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
When people translate Chinese, they often fail to pay close attention to the sound of Chinese characters. The
U.S. suspects that the original name “Aobama” contains the Chinese characters for
“Australia” and “fawn over.” Now that China and Australia are increasingly
close, the U.S. will of course be concerned about this. “Oubama,” on the other
hand, includes the Chinese characters for “Europe” and “fawn over,” within
which may be hidden America's great ambition to have Europeans once again
pledge their allegiance to it.
Of course we could be over-thinking,
but such thinking
about relationships does
occur.
CLICK HERE FOR CHINESE VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US November 19, 12:37pm]
