Cho Chang isn't Japanese!

[Kelly]

No: HPFGUIDX 58857


 Ok, I'm de-lurking for my first post to put my two cents in on Cho 
Chang's origins. Some people have been saying (I'm sorry I can't find 
the exact post at the moment!) that she may be Japanese, but her name 
definately isn't.

  It isn't the hard 'g' which isn't in Japanese, its the 'ng' sound. 
Almost all Japanese letters are actually one entire syllable, and you 
rarely find two consonants together (though when you do they are 
gennerally part of the same letter). Some examples of Japanese letters 
in english: "a" "i" "u" "e" "o" "ka" "ki" "ku" "ke" "ko" "ta" "chi" 
"tsu" "te" "to" "sa" "shi" "su" "se" "so" - and so on.

  Also in regards to Cho Chang's height as evidence: the Japanese are 
actually usually taller than other peoples in the region.

  Personally I think her name makes her most likely Chinese, it doesn't 
sound very Korean to me (though I must admit I know very little about 
Korean, so maybe it is?) Her surname however sounds very Chinese. (I'm 
assuming Chang is her surname because most Chinese and Japanese people 
I've met here - Australia - give their name in western order when living 
here. Is it different in Britain?)

  Tanya.