Beijing Sounds — 北京的声儿

All sounds are from real events and situations unless otherwise noted (in an occasional reproduction).

Contains explicit use of singular they, gratuitous passive voice, and shamelessly split infinitives.

New to Beijing Sounds? Try this top-10 list from the 2007 Fiscal Year report for thorough confusion.

1. Tāng v. Tāngr — because it’s a minimal pair straight from the street. The PBS/YU classic

2. Chinese facts, such as “characters are hard” (as explained by both foreigners and taxi drivers) — because almost everything you hear about the language is a myth.

3. Zhonglish — because so many struggling speakers needed a word to call their own, and this one we’ve managed to backdate to 1963. (More Zhonglish here and here)

4. Bay-Jing / Beizzhing — because it’s evidence that a little knowledge can generate a LOT of righteous smuggery. Get over it, folks! (The followups are here and here.)

5. Mandarin learning videos — because no Beijing sound compares to “Tone 1 as foghorn”.

6. Guest posts here and here — because all this weird linguistic obsession has led not only to Echoes of Manchu, but to friendships as well.

7. CCTV — because it’s just priceless.

8. A chance encounter with a bird trainer — because it was this walk with my friend, and the trainer’s patient persistence, that inspired me to buckle down and become semi-literate.

9. A no-nonsense teacher — because I’m amused by the difference in tenor between what she says and what an American teacher would say.

10. Honest taxi drivers — because there are plenty out there. Sure, it’s a big city with bad eggs. But get your nose out of the stench! The only freedom you have is what you choose to focus on.

Always happy to get email: bjshengr -at- gmail -dot- com