Question:
In Shenmue 2, is the English transcription of the Chinese places and people written in the pronunciation of Cantonese or Mandarin?
My Answer:
Locations in Wan Chai and Kowloon are written in Cantonese pronunciation. (But, why the exception with Example#4?)
Character names are written in Mandarin pronunciation. Why?
The language of Hong Kong (where Wan Chai and Kowloon are) is Cantonese, so it is prudent of Suzuki-san to use the romanization of such when showing which streets and shops Ryo is walking in; to be realistic for English gamers. Of course I can understand that natural logic, however, since I've only just begun studying Mandarin, can someone help me understand why Suzuki-san would use Mandarin pronunciation for character names in Shenmue2?
LOCATIONS:
Example 1:
文武公園
Man Mo Park
文
In Mandarin: wen
In Cantonese: man
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%96%87
武
In Mandarin: wu
In Cantonese: mou
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6
公園
In English: park
Example 2:
恩田楼
Yan Tin Apartments
恩
In Mandarin: en
In Cantonese: jan
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%81%A9
田
In Mandarin: tian
In Cantonese: tin
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%94%B0
楼
In English: building (of two or more stories)
Example 3:
点心街
Dimsum Quarter
点
In Mandarin: dian
In Cantonese: dim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dim_sum
心
In Mandarin: xin
In Cantonese: sam
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%BF%83
街
In English: street
Example 4:
豆将軒
Dou Jiang Diner
豆
In Mandarin: dou
In Cantonese: dau
http://cantonese.org/search.php?q=%E8%B1%86
将
In Mandarin: jiang
In Cantonese: zoeng
http://cantonese.org/search.php?q=%E5%B0%86
軒
In English: pavilion with a view
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
NAMES:
Xiuying Hong = 紅秀瑛
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary ... 0%E7%91%9B
Yuanda Zhu = 朱元達
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary ... 3%E9%81%94
Dou Niu = 斗牛
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary ... 7%E7%89%9B
Fangmei Xun = 薫芳梅
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary ... 3%E6%A2%85
Zhangyu Kong = 孔張喩
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary ... 5%E5%96%A9
Luming Zhen = 珍鹿鳴
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary ... F%E9%B3%B4