Dialogue English Versions of Chinese Authors’ Names in Biomedical Journals: Observations and Recommendations The English language is widely used inter- In English transliteration, two-syllable Forms of Chinese Authors’ Names nationally for academic purposes. Most of given names sometimes are spelled as two in Biomedical Journals the world’s leading life-science journals are words (Jian Hua), sometimes as one word We recently reviewed forms of Chinese published in English. A growing number (Jianhua), and sometimes hyphenated authors’ names accompanying English- of Chinese biomedical journals publish (Jian-Hua). language articles or abstracts in various abstracts or full papers in this language. Occasionally Chinese surnames are Chinese and Western biomedical journals. We have studied how Chinese authors’ two syllables (for example, Ou-Yang, Mu- We found considerable inconsistency even names are presented in English in bio- Rong, Si-Ma, and Si-Tu). Editors who are within the same journal or issue. The forms medical journals. There is considerable relatively unfamiliar with Chinese names were in the following categories: inconsistency. This inconsistency causes may mistake these compound surnames for • Surname in all capital letters followed by confusion, for example, in distinguishing given names. hyphenated or closed-up given name, for surnames from given names and thus cit- China has 56 ethnic groups. Names example, ing names properly in reference lists. of minority group members can differ KE Zhi-Yong (Chinese Journal of In the current article we begin by pre- considerably from those of Hans, who Contemporary Pediatrics) senting as background some features of constitute most of the Chinese population. GUO Liang-Qian (Chinese Chinese names. We then provide exam- Many minority-group members’ names Pharmaceutical Journal) ples of the varied ways in which journals (for example, the Uighur name Munire WANG Ai-qin (Chinese Journal of have presented the transliterated names Mudessir and the Tibetan name Gong- General Surgery) of Chinese authors. Finally, we propose a Bao-Cai-Dan) clearly differ from typical ZHANG Song-wen (Journal of standardized format and note its advan- Chinese names. Names of minority-group Shanghai Medical University) tages. members have been transliterated in vari- LIU Xiuhua (Chinese Medical Journal ous ways. [Beijing]) Features of Chinese Names Different systems of transliteration • Surname with only first letter capitalized Some features of Chinese names differ contribute to the variability with which followed by hyphenated or closed-up from those of English names. These differ- Chinese names are presented in English. given name, for example, ences contribute to the variability in how Early overseas Chinese residents came Huang Zheng-ji (Chinese Medical names of Chinese authors are presented in largely from the coastal regions of the Journal [Beijing]) English. Recognizing these features can aid provinces Guangdong and Fujian. The Guo Weimin (Chinese Journal of in devising a clear and consistent format. Cantonese and Hakka dialects they spoke Practical Pediatrics) In Chinese the surname precedes the served as the basis of the Wade-Giles Lu Wenju (Academic Journal of given name. Thus, for example, in the system of transliteration. In the 1950s Guangzhou Medical College) Chinese name Zhou De-An, Zhou is the the Chinese government introduced the • Hyphenated or closed-up given name surname and De-An is the given name. pinyin system of transliteration, which followed by surname in all capital let- When writing their names in pinyin is based on the Mandarin dialect. When ters, for example, or other forms of transliteration, some writing their names in English, authors Da-Nian QIN (Asian Journal of Chinese authors retain the Chinese order, from mainland China now generally use Andrology) but others place their given names first, in the pinyin system. However, many over- Zhangwei CAI (Pediatric Research) keeping with the usual format for names in seas Chinese authors and authors in Hong • Hyphenated or closed-up given name English. Kong prefer the Wade-Giles system, with followed by surname with only first let- Chinese surnames usually have one syl- which they have long been familiar. For ter capitalized, for example, lable (for example, Chen, Li, Sun, Wang, example, they would write Chou Hsun- Wei-Chun Lin (Chinese Medical and Zhou). Chinese given names may be Tse rather than Zhou Xun-Ze and Sung Journal, Taipei) either one syllable (for example, Hong) Kuo-An rather than Song Guo-An. Shou-Liang Chen (Asian Journal of or two syllables (for example, Jian-Hua). Surgery) Science Editor • January – February 2002 • Vol 25 • No 1 • 3 Dialogue English Versions of Chinese Authors’ Names continued Dayuan Li (American Heart Journal) are two syllables, hyphenate them. We more than one syllable, rather than closing • Given name plus initial followed by sur- recommend, however, that authors retain up such names or giving only one or more name, for example, freedom to use the forms of transliteration initials, helps to maximize the amount of Jiang F. Luo (American Heart Journal) that they prefer and to list their surnames information available for literature-search- • Initials followed by surname, for exam- either first or last. ing. For example, if an author’s name is ple, Writing Chinese surnames in all capital listed as CHOU Hsun-Tse, it is likely Q. B. Xiong (American Journal of letters helps editors and readers to dis- to be indexed as Chou, HT; if listed as Clinical Pathology) tinguish between the surname and given CHOU Hsuntse, it will be indexed merely name, no matter whether the author as Chou, H. Furthermore, inclusion of the Examples of inconsistency in format in places the surname before or after the full given name rather than merely initials a given issue or volume include the fol- given name. It is effective regardless of facilitates distinction among authors with lowing: whether the author uses the pinyin system the same combination of surname and American Heart Journal, Vol 137, 1999: or the Wade-Giles system of translitera- initials. Dali Feng, Ya-Ting Chen, Ming W. Liu tion and whether the author is of the Han To summarize: Chinese names differ ethnic group or a minority ethnic group. in structure from English names. When American Journal of Clinical Pathology, Examples of names in this format are LI presenting names of Chinese authors in Vol 112, 1999: Jian-Hua, De-An ZHOU, CHOU Hsun- English, authors and editors should strive Chiao H. Wang, Q. B. Xiong, Chung Tse, and Munire MUDESSIR. Such clear for clarity and consistency while maintain- Wu Lin designation of surnames is of particular ing sensitivity to Chinese traditions and value in preparing bibliographic databases personal preferences. Writing Chinese Asian Journal of Surgery, Vol 24, 2001: and indexes. surnames in all capital letters, hyphenat- Shou-Liang Chen, Shenming Wang, Chinese compound surnames should ing two-syllable given names, and follow- Yongjie Lin be hyphenated in addition to appearing ing the other guidelines above can achieve in all capital letters (for example, MU- these goals. A Suggested Format RONG and SI-MA). The hyphenation SUN Xiao-Ling for Chinese Authors’ Names helps make clear that these surnames have ZHOU Jing The inconsistency in how Chinese more than one syllable. It also is consistent Xiangya School of Medicine authors’ names are presented in English with Chinese culture, in that compound Central South University can confuse editors, readers, and index- surnames contain more than one Chinese Changsha, Hunan ers. Furthermore, such inconsistency can character. People’s Republic of China create a poor impression of a journal. Most names of Tibetans do not include However, imposing consistency beyond surnames. Tibetan authors’ names should Note: A version of this article in which that required for clarity may needlessly be written accordingly (for example, De-Ji- the Chinese names are written in Chinese interfere with authors’ right to state their Mei-Duo and Cai-Rang) unless the author characters, as well as transliterated, is avail- names as they wish. states that part of the name is a surname. able from the authors. To obtain it, write To maximize clarity and facilitate Avoiding full capitalization unless indi- to ZHOU Jing at [email protected]. searching the literature, we suggest that cated reflects the nature of Tibetan names Other correspondence about the article can Chinese authors write their surnames in and respects Tibetan customs. be directed to the same address. all capital letters and, if their given names Hyphenating Chinese given names of 4 • Science Editor • January – February 2002 • Vol 25 • No 1.