Comments on: No word for ‘puck’ in Chinese? http://www.xyre.org/2008/04/25/no-word-for-puck-in-chinese/ Ancient writings, current events, and my other whims Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:51:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: AmhPub - Content, or lack thereof, goes here http://www.xyre.org/2008/04/25/no-word-for-puck-in-chinese/#comment-284 AmhPub - Content, or lack thereof, goes here Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:16:34 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/?p=137#comment-284 [...] If you wish to be enlightened about some of the cultural differences between Canada (whose interest in hockey has always been strong) and China (whose interest in hockey is waxing), viewed from the cultural context of the United States, read this amusing post. [...] [...] If you wish to be enlightened about some of the cultural differences between Canada (whose interest in hockey has always been strong) and China (whose interest in hockey is waxing), viewed from the cultural context of the United States, read this amusing post. [...]

]]> By: Codfish http://www.xyre.org/2008/04/25/no-word-for-puck-in-chinese/#comment-279 Codfish Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:02:11 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/?p=137#comment-279 First, I have no idea why it would be so unlikely for there to be hockey in China. There's a large ice-skating culture in the northeast - I saw lots of people ice skating in Shenyang, and I'm sure it gets even more prevalent as you go farther north. Not a huge jump from there to hockey. Harbin even bid for the Winter Olympics, remember? Second, there totally is a word for hockey (and, therefore, hockey puck). It's, in fact, ridiculously obvious: iceball (冰球, bing1qiu2). This appears, as far as I can tell, to be an abbreviation for 冰上曲棍球 (bing1shang4 qu1gun4qiu2), literally "crooked-stick-ball on ice" (though, sadly, no Eskimo music). "Crooked-stick-ball" is what you call field hockey. So it is correct to use the same word for "ball" and "puck." And I'm not sure that one would expect Chinese to make this distinction based solely on the fact that English does. I suppose you could argue that the puck's lack of roundness means it's not really a ball, but then, when was the last time you saw a spherical American-style football? (On a similar note, the Chinese call that an olive-ball, which does fit the shape better.) First, I have no idea why it would be so unlikely for there to be hockey in China. There’s a large ice-skating culture in the northeast - I saw lots of people ice skating in Shenyang, and I’m sure it gets even more prevalent as you go farther north. Not a huge jump from there to hockey. Harbin even bid for the Winter Olympics, remember?

Second, there totally is a word for hockey (and, therefore, hockey puck). It’s, in fact, ridiculously obvious: iceball (冰球, bing1qiu2). This appears, as far as I can tell, to be an abbreviation for 冰上曲棍球 (bing1shang4 qu1gun4qiu2), literally “crooked-stick-ball on ice” (though, sadly, no Eskimo music). “Crooked-stick-ball” is what you call field hockey.

So it is correct to use the same word for “ball” and “puck.” And I’m not sure that one would expect Chinese to make this distinction based solely on the fact that English does. I suppose you could argue that the puck’s lack of roundness means it’s not really a ball, but then, when was the last time you saw a spherical American-style football? (On a similar note, the Chinese call that an olive-ball, which does fit the shape better.)

]]> By: Jon http://www.xyre.org/2008/04/25/no-word-for-puck-in-chinese/#comment-278 Jon Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:27:46 +0000 http://www.xyre.org/?p=137#comment-278 No word for 'puck' in New York: While hockey is spreading to unlikely places like China, it is disappearing from more likely places like the United States. Today's New York Times sports section had <i>no</i> coverage of hockey despite the fact that <i>a New York Team is in the playoffs</i>. All they did was list the scores and the schedule of the 2nd round of the playoffs. And they didn't even have yesterday's scores. No word for ‘puck’ in New York:

While hockey is spreading to unlikely places like China, it is disappearing from more likely places like the United States. Today’s New York Times sports section had no coverage of hockey despite the fact that a New York Team is in the playoffs. All they did was list the scores and the schedule of the 2nd round of the playoffs. And they didn’t even have yesterday’s scores.

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