University of Southern California Communication professor Greg Patton has been placed on leave for saying the Mandarin Chinese word “nèi ge” during a videotaped lecture. A group of self-described “Black students” claimed it sounded like “the n-word” and injured their mental health.
The students also stated, “It was confirmed that the pronunciation of this word is much different than what Professor Patton described in class.” Click here to hear how it is pronounced on Forzo. As far as we can tell, he pronounced it correctly. In fact, many Chinese pronounce it in a way that sounds even much closer to “the n-word.” (see video below)
According to the cancel mob:
“Our mental health has been affected. It is an uneasy feeling allowing him to have the power over our grades. We would rather not take his course than to endure the emotional exhaustion of carrying on with an instructor that disregards cultural diversity and sensitivities and by extension creates an unwelcome environment for us Black students.”
Dean Geoff Garrett groveled before the mob and declared, “I am deeply saddened by this disturbing episode that has caused such anguish and trauma.”
Here is a Chinese music video with the word in the chorus. As you can see, the professor did not alter the pronunciation to make it sound more like a slur.
Nǐ shì nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi nèi
Nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi gè nèi
Nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi nèi
Nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi gè nèi
Nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi nèi
Nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi gè nèi
Nèi nèi gè nèi nèi nèi gè nèi gè nèi nèi
Yángguāng cǎihóng xiǎo báimǎ
Translation:
You’re
the-the-th-the-the the-th-the-th-the-the
the-the-th-the-the the-th-the-th-the-the
the-the-th-the-the the-th-the-th-the-the
the-the-th-the-the the-th-the-th-the-the
the-the-th-the-the the-th-the-th-the-the
the-the-th-the-the the-th-the-th-the-the
Sunshine, rainbow, white pony!
