Re: Beijing, Zhongguo, etc.

One piece of linguistic fun that has been doing the rounds over here during
the past week has been a fabulous recording
of former (disgraceful) England football manager Steve McLaren, who now
manages a Dutch side. He gave an interview in English,
but in a "Dutch" accent, even though before this, the nearest he came to
Holland was to eat a bit of Gouda. Not only did he persevere
with his awful accent (which he certainly has had no time to acquire in
reality) but larded the interview with expressions like "how you say?"
and so on. If the guy had a sense of humour, you'd think he was doing it for
a laugh.
Mike