If you're blogging on Burma, you've probably wondered whether to call it Burma or Myanmar. Turns out they're both right--and wrong. Myanmar is the formal, literary construction, while Burma is the everyday sound. But the r sound in both is a Western addition.
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What's in a name?
15 May 2008 12:05 pm
Comments (10)
You forgot to mention the political dimension. "Myanmar" was officially imposed by the military dictatorship. "Burma" is favoured by the opposition.
Njorl, only Myanmar would sound different with a Boston accent. I take it we're supposed to pronounce Burma as Barbara Walters would.
I take it we're supposed to pronounce Burma as Barbara Walters would.
Boi-ma?
Random memory inspired by Njorl's comment:
A real estate agent in the west is showing an expatriated Bostonian through several houses. After about six showings in which the Bostonian finds something objectionable, the clever agent compares his notes against the listings, and finally locates a house that has none of those things. Proudly escorting the Bostonian into the residence, the agent proclaims, "Well sir, I think we've finally found your new residence. Here is is -- a house without a flaw!"
The Bostonian looks at him in perplexity. "Without a flaw?" he echoes. "Then what does one walk on?"
The correct English name of the country is whatever Aung San Suu Kyi prefers we call it, not what the murdering bastards call it. Accordingly, "Myanmar" is 100% wrong.
While we're on language, why is everyone referring to the storm as a "cyclone"? I thought hurricanes in that part of the world were known as typhoons.
I used to think cyclone was another term for tornado, although apparently is it broader than that. Still, has there been some consensus change in meterological terminology that I wasn't updated on, am I wrong in thinking that Burma was hit by a hurricane-equivalent, or have I just been completely out to lunch on this for a great many years?
Sean - Cyclone is a generic term covering these types of storms wherever they rotate counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. (Anti-cyclones are roughly the reverse of that.) They don't have to be hurricane force winds.
More specific is "tropical cyclone", for these large circular storms that start in the tropics.
If they have hurricane force winds than in the Atlantic and NE Pacific they are called hurricanes, in the NW Pacific they are called typhoons, everywhere else they are called Cyclonic Storms or Tropical cyclones.
"The correct English name of the country is whatever Aung San Suu Kyi prefers we call it, not what the murdering bastards call it. Accordingly, "Myanmar" is 100% wrong."
What he said.
I also liked the way Laura Bush put it. I don't have an exact quote, but in an interview where she was asked why she called it Burma rather than Myanmar, she said basically that once they had a legitimate, elected government, she would call it whatever they decided on.
The reason I don't use Myanmar is because it's being pushed by SLORC.
No need to invade - just level the ever living hell out of the junta's new "capital" and then go hunting for the leadership. They are running a state and HAVE to show up to defend what they have. We get to do insurgency and then feed people. This is a good thing.
Another reason why pacifism and handwringingism is evil - it gets you away from helping people. But then I'm a warmongering lunatic who believes the main problem with our nuclear program is its lack of use and that Truman should have been impeached for ending WWII. Should have nuked Moscow and rolled to the Pacific when we had the chance.
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"But the r sound in both is a Western addition. "
So...say either like we're from Boston?
Posted by Njorl | May 15, 2008 12:30 PM