[PW] Chinese expressions

[Graeme Rymill]

Dr Igor de Rachewiltz at the Australian National University has this to
say on the subject of spaghetti and Marco Polo:

"Marco never claims that he was responsible for their introduction to
the West. In fact, Marco does not mention spaghetti or ravioli in his
book, but speaks only of 'lasagne' (as a staple food of the Mongols and
the Chinese), a term incorrectly rendered as 'vermicelli' and 'noodles'
by a series of English translators who were evidently not very
conversant with the different types of pasta. They alone are responsible
for the legend of Marco's involvement in the noodle migration - a legend
which never spread outside English-speaking countries."

From: F. Wood's Did Marco Polo Go To China?: A Critical Appraisal by I.
de Rachewiltz at
http://dspace.anu.edu.au/manakin/bitstream/1885/41883/1/Marcopolo.html 

Graeme Rymill
University of Western Australia Library