Old National Pronunciation
English
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 老國音 / 老国音 (Lǎoguóyīn), from 老 (lǎo, “old; venerable”, honorific) + 國音 / 国音 (guóyīn, “national pronunciation”). The term old does not refer to it being a historical standard, but was instead used contemporaneously as a way to promote the standard's legitimacy.
Proper noun
Old National Pronunciation or the Old National Pronunciation
- (historical) The national standard for the pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese as used by the Republic of China from 1913 to 1932.