Wade-Giles system definitions
| Word backwards | seliG-edaW metsys |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | The part of speech of "Wade-Giles system" is a noun phrase. |
| Syllabic division | Wade-Giles sys-tem |
| Plural | The plural of Wade-Giles system is Wade-Giles systems. |
| Total letters | 15 |
| Vogais (3) | a,e,i |
| Consonants (8) | w,d,g,l,s,y,t,m |
The Wade-Giles System
Wade-Giles system is a romanization system for the Chinese language. It was developed by Thomas Wade and Herbert Giles in the 19th century. This system was the most widely used method for the romanization of Chinese until it was replaced by the Pinyin system in the 20th century.
Key Features
One of the main features of the Wade-Giles system is that it uses apostrophes to indicate the separation of syllables in a word. For example, the Chinese surname "Zhao" is romanized as "Chao" in the Wade-Giles system. This helps to preserve the original pronunciation of Chinese words when they are written using the Latin alphabet.
Popularity and Usage
While the Wade-Giles system is no longer the official romanization system for Chinese, it is still used in certain contexts. For example, many older books and scholarly works still use the Wade-Giles system for romanizing Chinese words. Additionally, some people continue to use this system out of habit or preference.
Comparison to Pinyin System
Unlike the Pinyin system, which was designed to be more intuitive for Westerners to learn and use, the Wade-Giles system can be more challenging for those unfamiliar with the conventions of the system. The use of apostrophes and different letter combinations can make it difficult for beginners to accurately pronounce Chinese words.
Legacy
Despite its decline in usage, the Wade-Giles system still holds historical significance in the study of the Chinese language. It played a crucial role in making Chinese texts more accessible to Western scholars and readers, paving the way for further cross-cultural understanding and communication.
Wade-Giles system Examples
- The Wade-Giles system is an outdated romanization system for Mandarin Chinese.
- Many older English texts on Chinese history use the Wade-Giles system for romanizing Chinese names.
- The Wade-Giles system was replaced by the Pinyin system in mainland China in the 1950s.
- Some academic publications still use the Wade-Giles system for consistency with older texts.
- Learning the Wade-Giles system can be valuable for understanding historical references.
- Wade-Giles romanization can cause confusion due to differences in pronunciation compared to Pinyin.
- Knowing both Wade-Giles and Pinyin can be beneficial for studying older and modern Chinese texts.
- The Wade-Giles system uses apostrophes to indicate sounds that are different from their English counterparts.
- Distinguishing between "hs" and "sh" is an important aspect of the Wade-Giles system.
- The Wade-Giles system was developed in the 19th century by Thomas Wade and Herbert Giles.