24 April, 2011
More nominative determinism
Speaking of nominative determinism in a Chinese context, as we were.
A good friend of mine visited her dentist for treatment. Her dentist is called Mr Ng. Which is entirely appropriate, considering the sort of conversations one has with dentists.
Note that it doesn't matter what the patient actually means by "Ng! Ng!". The exchange is entirely phatic in nature.
Oh. And just when was my friend's session with her Chinese dental practitioner? Well it couldn't really have been any other time, could it? Two thirty.
A good friend of mine visited her dentist for treatment. Her dentist is called Mr Ng. Which is entirely appropriate, considering the sort of conversations one has with dentists.
Dentist: Right then, I'm going to have a good scrape round that rotten cavity with this evil-looking hook. It's going to hurt like hell, I'm afraid. Well, I'm not really, and you're well strapped in. Is that OK? [Smiles evilly.]
Patient [sweating profusely and with a mouth already packed chock-full of dental hardware]: Ng! Ng!
Dentist: Good.
Patient: Aaaargh!
Note that it doesn't matter what the patient actually means by "Ng! Ng!". The exchange is entirely phatic in nature.
Oh. And just when was my friend's session with her Chinese dental practitioner? Well it couldn't really have been any other time, could it? Two thirty.
# posted by Edwin Greenwood @ 13:20 
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Bastard, you crept up on me with that one!
Spike Milligan forever.
Spike Milligan forever.
# posted by 
: 24 April, 2011 14:04
: 24 April, 2011 14:04
The Chinese character pronounced 'ng' (eng) in Cantonese is pronounced 'wu' in Mandarin.
My dentist is also Dr. Ng, and I use both pronunciations during his drilling.
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My dentist is also Dr. Ng, and I use both pronunciations during his drilling.
# posted by : 25 April, 2011 17:48
: 25 April, 2011 17:48 << Home
