Edwin G. Pulleyblank
Contemporary Chinese dictionaries disagree whether 吐蕃 "Tibet" is pronounced "Tǔbō" or "Tǔfān" – a question complicated by the homophonous slur "tǔfān" 土番 (lit. "dirt barbarians", possibly "agricultural barbarians") "barbarians; natives; aborigines". The "Hanyu Da Cidian" cites the first recorded Chinese usages of "Tǔfān" 土番 "ancient name for Tibet" in the 7th century (Li Tai 李泰) and "tǔfān" 土番 "natives (derogatory)" in the 19th century (Bi Fucheng 薜福成). Sinological linguists are engaged in ongoing debates whether 吐蕃 is "properly" pronounced "Tubo" or "Tufan". For example, "Sino-Platonic Papers" has been the venue for disputation among Victor H. Mair, Edwin G. Pulleyblank, and W. South Coblin .