Annals of Biang, Vienna edition

From Haun Saussy: Geoff Pullum's unfavorite Chinese character. Pop quiz for genuine character connoisseurs / lovers / enthusiasts How do we know that this character is to be pronounced in the second tone?  Wiktionary.  Wikipedia.  As cited in the latter, According to a China Daily article, the word "biang" is an onomatopoeia that actually refers to the sound made by the […]