New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09

., that vast and wonderful empire. Not only
does il present a most disheartening obstacle to
.be foreigner who hopes to be able to make him.
self understood in his travels through the coun-
t-v but il is equally incOnvenient for the chi
nose themselves. To a native Of the Province
~ Ouang-Tung in which Canton is situated,
the city Of FOO-Chow. two or three hundred
miles distant. would be like foreign land for
q would be impossible for him to communicate
with its inhabitants in any tongue common 10
them both In the northern part Of the empire,
IN the neighborhood Of Picking. another dialect
wholly different from either that OF Canton or
Foo-Chow. is spoken. But the confusion is still
more marked than these facts would indicate.
II is not necessary to so two hundred miles, or
even one hundred miles. to find diversities Of
language So great that the natives Of the re-
spective places could not understand each other.
The Chinese Vice-Consul in this city. Mr.
Wing said in speaking OF the matter the other
day that a Chinaman was often utterly unable
10 understand the spoken tongue OF resident
in a town not more than five or ten miles away
The differences in pronunciation are much
greater than those between the written charac-
ters. saws Mr. Wing. so that If the Chnaman
travelling in his own land were able TO write
he might be able to carry on his communications
more successfully.
The Mandarin dialect Is the language Of the
Court at peking. 1t is the recognized tongue in
official circles. and is spoken by the nobility
and bi-her classes in Northern China. The
Chinese Consul in this city. Mr. Chung Pao Hs
pronounced Choong Pc See but usually alb
breviated in conversation 10 Mr. Chung.
speaks the Mandarin dialect. as does the Vice
Consul. Mr.. Wing. The latter gave the writer
the correct Mandarin pronunciation Of several
OF the names which have occurred prominently
in the late dispatches from China. 1t will be
remembered that this can by no means be re-
Carled as the universal Chinese pronunciation
OF the names. but as most Of the places referred
to are in Northern China the spelling of their
names is according to the Mandarin dialect 1t
Is rather difficult to reproduce the sounds In
English. but fairly good equivalents can be
given, allowance being made for the peculiar
cultural sounds which the Chinese give to many
combinations Of letters.
Picking the capital is Pee-Chn to the Man
DARN the accent strong on the first syllable
The river Yang tse- Kiang is Yong Kiong
following what seems to be general rule to
pronounce "a" before "ng," like short 20" in
English There is a slight emphasis upon the
second syllable Of the name. Use" HOang-Ho
is pronounced Hwong-HO, the last syllable be-
ing accented. Kin-Chau and Kiao-Chau are re-
spectiyely Kin-Chow and Kow Chow, the stress
In each instance falling on the last syllable
Wei-Ha-Wei is Way-Hi-Way. Che-Foo is
ebay Foo. Nankin is NOnkeen. and Shanghai
Shonghi The name Of the Gulf Of Pe-Chi-L
is called Pch-Chee-Lee by the Mandarin. and
that Of the Gulf Of Leao-Tong. north Of It, is
LAow-Tong All these names are accented on
their last sylablc9 is also fallen Wan. the
pronunciation Of which is sufficiently indicated
by its proper spelling Tien-Tsin is sounded like
one word. Ticnshin, with the accent the mid
de syllable. "en." Among the other important
cities Of the empire. Canton is Kong-TOng in
the Mandarin dialect, pronounced in the same
way as Hong-Kong the stress on the last sy
liable
The origin Of the diversity OF dialects in China
dates back so far into antiquity that full and
accurate knowledge regarding it is impossible.
But the subject has been carefully investigated
as far as such search could be extended, and
many interesting articles have been written
thereon According to the suggestions Of the
best authorities. the founders Of the Chinese
Empire entered the country through Turkestan
about five thousand years ago. Their first colo
MES Were founded the plain east Of the
HoangHo. whittier they were followed and
pushed onward by the Turkish hOrdcs from the
country they had left. Gradually they advanced
eastward and southwark until they had gained
all the land far as the Desert Of COBB, and
The mod'rn coast province Of Chilli, in which
Peking is situated. In their onward course they
drove before them the aboriginal population,
Which consisted Of scattered tribes. These
moved southwark and mingled with the lndo-
Chinese in the southern part Of the empire.
Nothing is known Of the pre-Chincse history Of
The provinces Of Fuh-Kien and Quang-Tung on
ue southeast coast but it is known that they