3 ms·
I think this is a reference to naming virus mutations... after 10 more mutations (?) we'll arrive at the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet, Xi. Which is also th
by kingaillas 5y ago
I think this is a reference to naming virus mutations... after 10 more mutations (?) we'll arrive at the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet, Xi. Which is also the family name of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago> Which is also the family name of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. Well, it has the same English spelling. It's not a similar sound at all; you would probably think of one as "ksee" and the other as "she". Though the standard English practice is to pronounce xi, pi, phi, chi, and psi as if they rhymed with "sigh", making the words even less similar. Different consonant, different vowel.
- jessaustin 5y agoThe Greek phonetics seems more accurate than the Chinese phonetics. The Pinyin "x" is more "ɕ" than "ʃ".
- thaumasiotes 5y agoI know that, but that's not a difference that exists in English. You can't think of 习 as being a sound you don't know. You have to think of it as a sound you do know.