Gwoyeu Romatzyh

Gwoyeu Romatzyh ({{zh-stp|s=国语罗马字|t=國語羅馬字|p=Guóyǔ Luómǎzì}}), abbreviated GR, is a romanization (formerly used officially in the Republic of China) with complex spelling rules which allow for tonal distinctions (unlike most other Romanizations, which require additional diacritics or numerals).

Related Topics:
Romanization - Republic of China - Tonal - Diacritic - Numeral

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As a result its tonal spelling, many letters in Gwoyeu Romatzyh are also used to signify tones and not actual segmental sounds. For example, the Pinyin and Wade-Giles ai is written in GR as one of ai, air, ae, or ay (tones 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). In this case, "r" is not pronounced and simply indicates tone two. However, tone two is not always indicated by r, as GR's iou, you, yeou, or yow correspond to Pinyin and Wade-Giles you. (See #Tonal rules) Because of these elaborate rules and irregularities, GR is difficult to read and learn, in comparison to the later ROC Romanizations (MPS II and Tongyong Pinyin) as well as the already popular Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin.

Related Topics:
Pinyin - Wade-Giles - #Tonal rules - MPS II - Tongyong Pinyin - Hanyu Pinyin

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