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Written by Violet
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Friday, 23 June 2006 |
There is a suggested donation of $5 for the Cantonese classes. This is to help defray traveling and teaching supplies costs for our teachers as well as to help expand our program to the New York City community.
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About the Cantonese
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by K. Moy and Tony with additions and editing by Violet and David
The Unique Cantonese
Cantonese - Then and Now As our Cantonese-Toisanese ancestors contributed greatly to the building of American railroads, struggled, suffered and experienced racism in early American History. We, as Cantonese-Toisanese descendants should appreciate our heritage, history, culture and its Unique Cantonese-Toisanese language.
A Tribute to the Cantonese-Toisan Cultural Program strives for credit and recognition for Cantonese language and our ancestors' contributions to the building of America.
Did you know Cantonese is over 2000 years old? Pass it on.
A Worldwide Language Cantonese-Chinese is the main language spoken in major Chinese communities around the world from the United States and Canada. In fact, Cantonese is the number three language spoken in the Canadian city of Toronto after English and French! You will also hear Cantonese in Latin American and Carribean countries such as Venezuela, Columbia, Guatemala, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Don't forget Europe and Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore too.
Practical Cantonese People want to learn Cantonese for job purposes, to get around Chinese communities, to communicate with their Cantonese speaking friends, to order food in Chinese restaurants, for their significant other who speaks Cantonese or sub-Cantonese dialect (e.g. Toisanese), want to learn another language, travel to Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong (Canton) China, and other Chinese communities outside of China, for personal pleasure, to communicate with their Kung Fu (martial arts) sifu (master) and countless other reasons.
Diversity of Sub-Dialects Cantonese families continue to pass on Cantonese and Cantonese sub-
dialects (Toisanese, Yun-Pingnese) to their children and speak it on a daily basis in Chinatown. The Cantonese sub-dialects are commonly Toisanese, Yun-
Pingnese & Sun-Wuinese.
Cantonese in American Life In the heart of Chinese communities, like NYC's Chinatown, to obtain
employment, it's very necessary to speak Cantonese and Mandarin, but
Cantonese is commonly spoken since the majority of the customers are
Cantonese speaking. Some jobs even require Toisanese and Fujianese dialects. In the heart of Chinatown, Cantonese and Toisanese are spoken on a daily basis. Non-Cantonese speakers learn the Cantonese language by listening and interacting with Cantonese speakers in the community and watching and listening to Cantonese language movies, and radio stations. There are Cantonese radio stations, movies, public performances and events, social services and church services in the Cantonese language. This is where the Cantonese speakers can enjoy and appreciate the Cantonese language and culture; as well as where open-minded non-Cantonese speakers can learn the language and culture as well.
A Musical Language In this tribute program, Cantonese is taught through the natural process by singing, listening and repetition (it works!). After just a little practice, you will discover the musical flow of the language.
Cantonese opera also has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the dialect and the province's rich history. Cantonese is also taught through phonetics.
A Flexible Language Cantonese is a very important, useful, and common language outside of China (besides GuangDong & Hong Kong) due to the massive migration of the Cantonese who travelled all over the world.
Like the English language, Cantonese can sound, from very gentle to very expressive, fun-sounding, and even defensive!
Cantonese is often described as if the Cantonese speakers are singing.
Often, "-lah," "-ah," and "-gah" are added to the end of a statement or question
which makes it sound like we are singing.
In English, we usually modify the mood or meaning of a sentence by uttering it in a different tone.
However, since Cantonese is a musical, tonal language, where changing the tone of a word may actually change the word into a different word, there is much less flexibility to do so.
This is where the sentence final particles come in.
These particles are often used to modify the mood or sometimes even the meaning of a sentence. (See Particles article for details)
Occasionally, we naturally add it to the end of statements to elaborate what we mean, and it makes the language sound really fun!
Cantonese Culture Thrives As there are other new groups of Chinese immigrants, just as there are new groups of Latin immigrants (e.g: Mexicans), it does not take away the fact that Cantonese is a widely orphaned dialect. As other Chinese immigrants reside in Chinatown or are surrounded by Cantonese speakers, listen to Cantonese radio stations and watch Cantonese movies, many learn the Cantonese dialect. Like many Chinese people say, everywhere you go there are always a lot who speak Cantonese.
Tribute to the Cantonese/Toisan Cultural Program's Mission, is also to correct the myths about the Cantonese population, culture, and language.
A Mandarin speaker who is currently residing in Guangdong (Canton) province shared, "I feel the urge to learn Cantonese." Many of the local people speak limited Mandarin. They speak Cantonese on a daily basis, to their friends, family, and customers to the point everyone is speaking Cantonese.
A young American-Born-Chinese man, who was raised in New York and New Jersey, recently received his PhD. Offered two jobs across the country, he discovered the Chinese language he took under advisement in University will not help him as BOTH jobs require Cantonese.
For example:
hurry up: figh-dee (-lah)!
come over: gor-lay (-lah)!
what?: mut-yeh (-ah)?
don't have: mo (-ah)!
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A Tribute to the Cantonese/Toisan
people, giving credit and recognition
to the Cantonese and Toisan people who struggled,
persevered and contributed to the
building of America and
Chinese-American communities Everywhere.
With this message and brief history on The
Cantonese, we hope and aim for all Cantonese (and Toisan)
speakers and learners to proudly and appreciatively
share with others "I am Cantonese and I speak
Cantonese!"
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 March 2008 )
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Written by Taospark
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Thursday, 03 April 2008 |
Two of K. Moy's classes, her Cantonese 101 and Cantonese 102 classes, are now moving to the Silk Road Mocha Cafe starting April 19th! A cozy spot in the heart of Chinatown, you can now experience the Cantonese classes you've loved before in a more relaxed setting over coffee or bubble tea!
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 April 2008 )
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