Ting Ling is located to the northwest of the Agatean empire. According to here https://discworld.fandom.com/wiki/Agatean_Empire , Ting Ling is supposed to be a Discworld version of Japan but over here https://discworld.fandom.com/wiki/Discworld_geography it says Ting Ling is possibly a Discworld version of Hong Kong. When it comes to pronounciation "Ting Ling" seems more similar to "Hong Kong" since one has two Is and one has two Os. So which link is correct?
Does Ting Ling=Japan?
- Thread starter Burp1
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Hi Burp1 and welcome to the site.
In previous discussions here, we've tended to think that it's an amalgam of various places in the Far East. I believe I'm right in saying that Japanese words all either end in a vowel sound or an N sound, so that might rule out Japan.
The thing I would say about Wikis created by fans, is that they may still be up for editing in the way that Wikis generally are. Without Sir Terry's final deciding consent, which of course we cannot get, it's difficult to know an official answer to your question. It could be a bit of both!
In previous discussions here, we've tended to think that it's an amalgam of various places in the Far East. I believe I'm right in saying that Japanese words all either end in a vowel sound or an N sound, so that might rule out Japan.
The thing I would say about Wikis created by fans, is that they may still be up for editing in the way that Wikis generally are. Without Sir Terry's final deciding consent, which of course we cannot get, it's difficult to know an official answer to your question. It could be a bit of both!
Welcome to the forum, Burp1.
Yep, Tony's post is right. Just in the same way as the Agatean Empire itself contains elements of both Japan and China. (I won't mention them, so as not to spoil anyone who hasn't read "Interesting Times" yet).
Tony, what about the L-Space Wikia? That one always struck me as relatively accurate.
Yep, Tony's post is right. Just in the same way as the Agatean Empire itself contains elements of both Japan and China. (I won't mention them, so as not to spoil anyone who hasn't read "Interesting Times" yet).
Tony, what about the L-Space Wikia? That one always struck me as relatively accurate.
The L-Space Wiki was also created by fans. The history of it goes way back to early internet bulletin boards. Terry used to take an active precipitation in it in the early days and would sometimes confirm fan theories. I understand that he moved away from it after some fans insisted that he was "wrong" about things he'd written.
The Annotations are interesting, but not necessarily canon. There are a lot of fan theories in there that Terry has neither confirmed or denied. Also a lot of the later books have no annotations at all. I have, in the past, posted suggestions for consideration to the annotations and never received any notification of my posts.
There seems to be an awful lot of things in the books that Terry didn't go into much detail about when questioned. It wasn't that he was standoffish or that he wouldn't answer questions, it's just that he managed to avoid giving answers.
The Annotations are interesting, but not necessarily canon. There are a lot of fan theories in there that Terry has neither confirmed or denied. Also a lot of the later books have no annotations at all. I have, in the past, posted suggestions for consideration to the annotations and never received any notification of my posts.
There seems to be an awful lot of things in the books that Terry didn't go into much detail about when questioned. It wasn't that he was standoffish or that he wouldn't answer questions, it's just that he managed to avoid giving answers.
Hmm, I remember the old internet bulletin boards. When I first read the books, I then had a look at the annotations at the L-Space wiki and thought, "Ahh ... so that's what I missed." I didn't always cotton on to what Terry was getting at.
As for fans insisting that he was "wrong" about things he'd written ... sigh. Why? Give the man his due: they're his books. Saying he's "wrong" isn't helpful in the least, and just makes people look conceited and arrogant. I'm not surprised he moved away from it, but I think it's a great pity.
By the way, speaking of Discworld locations corresponding to real-world ones: does Llamedos have Welsh characteristics? It certainly seemed that way after "Soul Music", but in "Rising Steam", Llamedos is described as "sensibly dwarfish". Obviously Wales has no dwarfs, but is there Welsh folklore or legends about dwarfs? Also, Llamedos's economy in RS is described to centre around mining, fishing and logging. Is that the case for Wales, too?
I didn't always cotton on to what Terry was getting at.As for fans insisting that he was "wrong" about things he'd written ... sigh. Why? Give the man his due: they're his books. Saying he's "wrong" isn't helpful in the least, and just makes people look conceited and arrogant. I'm not surprised he moved away from it, but I think it's a great pity.
By the way, speaking of Discworld locations corresponding to real-world ones: does Llamedos have Welsh characteristics? It certainly seemed that way after "Soul Music", but in "Rising Steam", Llamedos is described as "sensibly dwarfish". Obviously Wales has no dwarfs, but is there Welsh folklore or legends about dwarfs? Also, Llamedos's economy in RS is described to centre around mining, fishing and logging. Is that the case for Wales, too?
In regard to Llamedos - yes it very much seems to have typically Welsh characteristics. The name itself is a reference to Dylan Thomas's created Welsh town, Llareggrub, from his work, Under Milk Wood. Spelled backward it reads: Bugger-all. Llamedos backward is: Sod 'em all. Wales may not have dwarfs, but it was famous for mining. And the Eisteddfod mentioned in Soul Music, is very much a Welsh traditional music and the arts competition.
As for fans insisting that he was "wrong" about things he'd written ... sigh. Why? Give the man his due: they're his books. Saying he's "wrong" isn't helpful in the least, and just makes people look conceited and arrogant. I'm not surprised he moved away from it, but I think it's a great pity.
I don't think Terry would have been offended, or angry. As a keen observer of human nature, I think he would have been fascinated by peoples reactions, and also unwilling to spoil people's 'mind versions' by contributing more 'facts'. That doesn't necessarily mean he wouldn't think they were tools though
