Barry's sinofication of Tibetan

[Beth Simon]

Dear Barry and others,

Barry's information relies either directly or indirectly on Chinese sources, offers Chinese lexical items and phonological analyses for Tibetan lexical items and phonology, and interprets Tibetan cultural practices through Chinese cultural filters.

Thus, for instance, the "hada" rather than what is usu transliterated as "kata" -- the kha-tag, which is the Tibetan word and object. The kata, a rectangular piece of cloth,  the materials for which can range from the most inexpensive loosely woven muslin (as is most common) to more costly textiles, is white, yes, but not as symbolic of what Barry blocked and moved here.

Again, the Tibetan degree is the geshe degree (transliterated from Tibetan). "gexi" is a chinese transliteration, and represents chinese phonolgy, not Tibetan.

Momo, the stuffed wheat flour dumpling, is on a number of menus in north america, u.s. and canada, esp in areas of Tibetan resettlement, esp on menus for south asian or "world" restaurants, for which the Chinese restaurant "pot sticker" is the food equivalent. And while _momo_ might well be considered for inclusion in upcoming or future American English dictionaries, the various morphemes affixed to momo, for instance, that for "meat," would not.

Perhaps Barry's ahistorical, acultural, asocial, self-referential jibe regarding his Tibetan driver or "guide"  is best left without comment.

beth simon
associate professor, linguistics and english
indiana university purdue university
voice 260 481 6761; fax 260 481 6985
email simon at ipfw.edu


>>> Bapopik at AOL.COM 09/19/02 10:00 AM >>>
MONLAM--Not in OED.  How about the revised OED?  Oh, c'mon!  There are 1,350 Google hits.  From a tourist brochure:
   _The Monlam Festival_  The Monlam Festival, lasting from the first to the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, is the largest religious gathering in Tibet.  The festival was introduced by Tsongkhapa, founder of the Yellow Sect, in 1409.  During the festival lamas from the three largest monasteries gather in the Jokhang, reciting scriptures and attending an examination for the gexi degree.

HADA--A white scarf, presented to me by my tour guide at the airport.  Kind of like the "lei" is to Hawaii.  A quick Google check for "hada" (also called "khatag") and "Tibet" shows 941 hits.  Again, not in the OED.  From the same brochure:
   _Presenting Hada_  Present _hada_ is a common practice among the Tibetan people to express their best wishes on many occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, festivals, visiting the elders and the betters, and entertaining guests.  The white _hada_, made of grege silk, embodies purity and good fortune.

BON--A major religion of Tibet, even before Buddhism.  A follower is a "bonpo."  The LONELY PLANET--TIBET guide devotes pages 57-58, and also pages 288-289, to explaining this religion.  According to page 288: "Bon was formally accepted by the Dalai Lama as one of the five schools of Tibetan Buddhism in 1998."  Bon started in the 8th and 9th centuries.  Too much of a passing fad for inclusion in the OED??  A check for "Bon" and "religion" and "Tibet" on Google shows 6,600 hits.