Lay ho mah? Welcome to "Cantonese & Toisan Cultural Society" A program dedicated to promote Cantonese & Toisan dialects and the contributions of the Cantonese who built the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad, served in the U.S. military and developed Chinese communities worldwide. 為記念那些修築“美國内陸鐵路”之“粵籍工人 Bilingual/trilingual workers are always needed for many jobs. If you speak English and/or Mandarin, come learn Cantonese and/or Toisan to increase your chances of finding employment. 很多職業需要會說雙語/多種語言的人士。如果你會說英語/華語，請來學習粵語/台山話，以增加閣下尋找工作機會。費用全免。不論多或少的捐獻，以感謝支持這項免費課程。 See OUR LATEST NEWS above for our latest updates!Lay ho mah? This semester for Beginner's and Advanced Beginner's (also same as Intermediate) Cantonese classes is finishing it's cycle, but it will be restarting soon: TBAWednesday: Free Beginner's Cantonese session( Must purchase a drink)Donations any amount appreciated (supports the Cantonese Society program & purchase of supplies)Class handbook required: $13 : 3/24/10-5/26/10(Great way to meet people & learn Cantonese!)Time: 6pm-7:30 pm Location: 30 Mott st, cafe, walk all the way inside the cafe RSVP:
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or text message 1917 453 1491 to state you are attending (Instructor will bring the book)
If you do not have time for classes & would like to purchase a Cantonese book, email
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(your purchase will support the continuance of this unique & rare Cantonese & Toisan Society program. The book is using the "Ping Yum System, which uses the English phonetics to help learners pronounce the Cantonese words. It's very easy and clear to read. If you can read English, you can read the "Cantonese Ping-Yum" system. Beginner's Handbook:$13Advanced Beginner's Handbook: $8(plus $1.50 for shipping & handling)
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!" |
