Reconstruction of non-Chinese terms from Chinese sources
editChinese characters are, undoubtedly, the worst writing system to transcript foreign words. The reading of each character depends on time and place. We often find it difficult to reconstruct non-Chinese terms from Chinese sources, especially if the languages are dead, but Mandarin readings are different beyond recognition from those of old Chinese. In Wikipedia I try to use original spellings at least for Mongolian and Manchu, but adopt Pinyin for other languages.
Disclaimer: My adoption of Pinyin does not mean my support for PRC's policies.
Translation of Chinese names and titles
edit- 都尉 du1 yu4 - Defender
- 都元帥 du1 yuan2 shuai4 - Commander-in-Chief
- 監軍 jian1 jun1 - Army-inspecting Censor (Ming)
- 經略 jing1 lüe4 - Military Commissioner
- 郡 jun4 - Commandery
- 太守 tai4 shou3 - Governor
- 衛 wei4 - Guard (Ming)
- 游擊 you1 ji2 - Mobile Corps Commander
- 總兵官 zong3 bing1 guan1 - Regional Commander
The titles of the Manchu imperial family and Mongol (and some Muslim) princes
editneed translation
| Rank | Manchu | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | hošoi cin wang | 和碩親王 |
| 2 | šidzi | 世子 |
| 3 | doroi giyūn wang | 多羅郡王 |
| 4 | jangdzi | 長子 |
| 5 | doroi beile | 多羅貝勒 |
| 6 | gūsai beise | 固山貝子 |
| 7 | kesi be tuwakiyara gurun be dalire gung | 奉恩鎮國公 |
| 8 | kesi be tuwakiyara gurun de aisilara gung | 奉恩輔國公 |
| 9 | jakūn ubu de dosimbuhakū gurun be dalire gung | 不入八分鎮國公 |
| 10 | jakūn ubu de dosimbuhakū gurun de aisilara gung | 不入八分輔國公 |
| 11 | gurun be dalire janggin | 鎮國將軍 |
| 12 | gurun de aisilara janggin | 輔國將軍 |
| 13 | gurun be tuwakiyara janggin | 奉國將軍 |
| 14 | kesi be tuwakiyara janggin | 奉恩將軍 |
Notes on Mongolian Romanization
editI apply the Cyrillic script to Mongolian names related to Outer Mongolia after the Mongolian Revolution.
Transcription of the traditional Mongolian script
edit| trans. | variants |
|---|---|
| kh | q |
| gh | ɢ, γ |
| sh | š |
| ch | č |
| j | ǰ |
- romanize vowel + gh + vowel or vowel + g + vowel to vowel + vowel if pronounced as a long vowel today.
- romanize round vowels except on a first syllable to u if male, ü if female.
- respect original spellings of foreign origin words (esp. Tibetan).
The above rules are not applied to the Todo script.
Exceptions for popular words
- Khan (spelling: Khaghan, my romanization: Khaan)
- Hothot (Köke Khota)
Romanization differences between the Classical and Cyrillic scripts
edit| Classical | Cyrillic |
|---|---|
| kh (M), k (F) | h |
| gh (M), g (F) | g |
| n, ng | n |
| ch | ch, ts |
| b | b, v |
Romanization of Cyrillic script
edit| Аа | a | Ёё | yo | Лл | l | Рр | r | Хх | h | Ыы | ï |
| Бб | b | Жж | j | Мм | m | Сс | s | Цц | ts | Ьь | ĭ |
| Вв | v | Зз | z | Нн | n | Тт | t | Чч | ch | Ээ | e |
| Гг | g | Ии | i | Оо | o | Уу | u | Шш | sh | Юю | yu, yü |
| Дд | d | Йй | y | Өө | ö | Үү | ü | Щщ | shch | Яя | ya |
| Ее | yö | Кк | k | Пп | p | Фф | f | Ъъ | ' | ||