Text 27168, 52 rader
Skriven 2012-07-14 13:14:00 av NANCY BACKUS (1:261/1381)
     Kommentar till en text av MICHAEL LOO
Ärende: Re: gingery 901
=======================
-=> Quoting Michael Loo to Nancy Backus on 07-03-12  01:33 <=-

 ML> Transliteration is not an exact science, and furthermore,
 ML> there are differences in pronunciation even within a dialect
 ML> (say, Mandarin, also called guoyu) among people who are
 ML> fluent. The word for fish, my father used to pronounce it
 ML> as sort of like "you," but my mother and her father used
 ML> to pronounce it partway between "yi" and "yu" - my grandfather
 ML> being closer to "yi." The shiang part actually was pronounced
 ML> more like "hsiang," which is the former transliteration of it
 ML> with a hissy sound starting the word and a distinct two vowels
 ML> in the middle, except I've heard native speakers pronounce it
 ML> a whole bunch of ways. This nonstandardization and the
 ML> resulting confusion may be a reason why I am such an inept
 ML> speaker of the language.

And why the spelling/transliterations keep changing over the years...
 
 ML>> vinegar, ginger, scallions, and sugar in it. In my
 ML>> understanding, it's a flavoring scheme originally used
 ML>> for fish: yu means fish and shiang means fragrance.
 NB>> I'm pretty sure that vinegar could be an ingredient, possibly sugar,
 NB>> definitely scallions, but also garlic, and often hot red pepper...

 ML> Oh, yes, hot pepper. That's always a good addition.

Between the ginger, scallions and the hot pepper, it can be nicely
spicy.  :)
 
 ML>> You could possibly make a special request for slivered
 ML>> ginger on the side?
 NB>> I might just...  The owner/cook beams at me when I show up... 

 ML> So try. I often ask for hot pepper on the side.

I was there yesterday... and remembered why I don't usually ask... I'm
usually eating from their little lunch buffet.  No Yi Shiang green beans
this time, but there was Yi Shiang shrimp... still tasty but suffered
some from too long on the steam table, and didn't have nearly the
variety of veggies (only broccoli and a little green pepper) nor any
distinguishable ginger or garlic.  My friend had her usual Yi Shiang
Chicken (ordered from the menu, not the buffet)... if I'd followed her
example, I'd've had the Yi Shiang Chicken and Shrimp... and probably
would have asked for the extra slivered ginger on the side...  :)

ttyl       neb

... To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

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