A recent article in the "Times Literary Supplement" about China refers at one point to the word "Qin," and helpfully explains that it should be pronounced "Chin," and is the word from which China gets its name.  Some of us are old enough to remember when a new spelling for Chinese names was introduced to English-speakers, many of which are to be pronounced in a way that would be completely unnatural to anyone raised on English.  "Qin" is a perfect example.   Can anyone explain why this was done?

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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