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Best Cantonese pronunciation system
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Amdir_Flassion -
I know there are several standards, but I'm trying to figure out which Cantonese pronunciation
system system is the best for learning. Which one do u reckon?
My preference is for something non-roman like Zhuyin Fuhao, because they retain a Chineseness
about them. I have seen a Zhuyin version for Cantonese in an old Chinese dictionary before, but it
is not commonly used.
However, using romanisation system in schools (in China) will let students learn European-based
languages quicker, as they will have learnt the basic roman letter background.
Btw, how do students in HK learn the pronunciation of characters in Cantonese?
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keith -
Not sure about the others but according to personal experience, I used the romanisation system. It
wasn't easy but I got there in the end...
shibo77 -
Well, Cantonese, if it wasn't for Hong Kong and Macau, isn't suppose to have a romanisation system
nor a standard Cantonese since it isn't even suppose to be taught. Around the 1930's
白话运动Baihua Yundong -Movement towards a Vernacular Standard" made the aim to "eradicate"
all "dialects" within 100 years (by 2030) and only Guan(Mandarin) was supposed to be used
then(this is only for Chinese, excluding other ethnicities living in China).
The extended Zhuyin Fuhao for dialects places little pigtails/flourish at the end of a stroke. The
(ㄅ,ㄉ,ㄎ) p, t, k endings are smaller versions of ㄅb, ㄉd, ㄎk. (why not use smaller
versions of ㄆp, ㄊt, ㄎk?)
It is still very Guan (Mandarin)-based. The native speakers of Yue (Cantonese) should invent a
system themselves such as Hong Kong's Jyutping. In the mainland, Beijing devised a Yue (Cantonese)
version of the Hanyu Pinyin called Honyeu Penkyamp.
As for me, I think the best way is using the International Phonetic Alphabet.
-Shibo
ala -
The Yale system isn't too bad. The tones are nicely incorporated (they avoided the numbers.
Numbers and letters do not blend well together). Zhuyin Fuhao was designed specifically for
Standard Mandarin (not even many Mandarin dialects); modifications for other dialects were made as
an afterthought.
Ian_Lee -
Why do native speaking kids need certain kind of pronunciation system to study the language that
they have spoken all along?
I always scratch my head why fellow posters think there is such dire need.
I do know that the Education Department in HK is now adding Cantonese syllabus for South Asian
kids in school which definitely includes certain kinds of pronunciation system.
Quest -
Quote:
Well, Cantonese, if it wasn't for Hong Kong and Macau, isn't suppose to have a romanisation system
nor a standard Cantonese since it isn't even suppose to be taught.
says who?
Quote:
how do students in HK learn the pronunciation of characters in Cantonese?
in GZ, we never learned any cantonese pronunciation, but we just happened to know the
corresponding Cantonese readings of the characters, maybe from parents or other daily contacts.
Ian_Lee -
Shibo77:
What is wrong with students in HK learning Cantonese at school?
The Baihua Yundong in '30s was adopted by KM T, then is China ruled by KMT now?
Although Cantonese is a dialect, it is a language spoken by 70 million people (which exceeds the
popularity of many major national languages). Moreover, Cantonese is more popular worldwide than
Mandarin.
Since it is quite useful, why don't you start to learn it too?
ala -
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian_Lee
Why do native speaking kids need certain kind of pronunciation system to study the language that
they have spoken all along?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quest
In GZ, we never learned any cantonese pronunciation, but we just happened to know the
corresponding Cantonese readings of the characters, maybe from parents or other daily contacts.
Cantonese pronunciation of characters follow a pretty regular pattern with Mandarin, don't they?
文 and 白?
But for less regular dialects like Minnan and Wu (some characters in Wu have 4 or 5 readings,
while some with only one), I think a pronunciation system would be very helpful.
Pronunciation systems also help non-native speakers. Besides learning, these systems are helpful
for inputting characters into the computer (unless you opt for something like Cangjie).
Quest -
yes a pronunciation system is helpful, but I don't think any is being taught at cantonese schools,
so there is no standard... maybe the governments of guangdong, hk, and macau can develop a
standard, but then only couple towns/cities speak that kind of cantonese in guangdong.
Yau -
A highly accurate pinyin system for cantonese is developed and adjusted by a few scholars. My
friend came to Hong Kong from Hokkien at her eleven. Her father, a teacher in a mainland china,
forced her to learn this uncommon system, and now she pronunces Cantonese perfectly.
Check here:
Quote:
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