Someday I might actually really learn Cantonese

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In Memoriam
Leslie Cheung
1956-2003

Our Leslie, beautiful like a flower.
I love you today and always--
a part of my heart beats for you alone,
tonight and forever.

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2010-01-26 10:15 / 标准博客 / 会员可以看
6个评论

Not much going on, apart from trip preparations. For those interested in such, I'm giving a blow-by-blow on Facebook. AnD fans are spared.

I think I've experienced another breakthrough with Cantonese. About time is all I can say. I've been slogging away for close to 2 years now, and that last plateau was more akin to a deep trough that I was stuck in for about 6 months. I guess, if you keep at it long enough, any language is bound to yield at some point and things that just didn't make sense (or that you couldn't remember no matter how many different ways you tried to get them into your long-term memory) suddenly make a great deal of sense (and you can remember them from one day to the next).

After more than a year, on a whim I decided to review the last few chapters of the Pimsleur audio course: the chapters that never made sense because they were introducing grammar concepts, but no explanation of those concepts. In the meantime, I've learned a great deal about those same grammar concepts from another course (the old tried and true Foreign Service Institute Cantonese course available free on the internet). Now, going back to the audio course, it is all falling into place. Also, 2 weeks of intensive audio work is yielding great benefits in terms of understanding more and more movies and television series in Canto. The funny thing is my husband, after listening to Canto for 2 years now (despite his best efforts not to), is specifically asking for the Canto soundtrack on the latest Mainland series we are watching, even though more than half of the actors are speaking Mando in this one. He said he liked the way the actors who dubbed the thing into Canto delivered their lines more than the actors originally speaking Mando. If even the uninitiated can hear how much more expressive Canto is, you have to wonder why it hasn't caught on as the language of choice for everyday oral communication in China. Just be sure, Mandarin speakers, when you lynch me, you hang me high!

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博客评论 (6)

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JasonChau
留言於2010-01-30 3:48 [举报]

No need to worry Marie....I have confidence you'll do well. You just need more familiarity with the language....that always works. And if 2 years doesn't work, just add another 2 years! You'll get it sooner or later. Having someone speak it to you is obviously much better, all it takes is practice practice......

About the Mando vs Canto thing in China....well apparently I heard that Mandarin was chosen as the official language at some point in history because it was designed to be better spoken when picked up with foreigners. That was the original idea in China. That decision didn't happen until the early 1920s....we have China's forward-thinking leaders to thank for. Otherwise its well possible all of China now would be speaking next-impossible-to-learn Cantonese!
snowduck
留言於2010-01-27 8:48 [举报]

Ha, agreed Cantonese sounds more expressive to me as well. I was stupefied (Picture me with a round-eyed WTF-expression) when soem of my Cantonese-speaking friends told me they found Mando more elegant. Maybe I have a thing for more lively sound patterns. <scratch head> Might explain why I learned Greek. Anyway, great to hear your getting somewhere with your language lessons. <green-eyed envy>
Flagday
留言於2010-01-27 0:07 [举报]

It sounds like you have a language acquisition epiphany! It will be nice for you to test it all out in such a short time! Right around the corner. Good for you. And so nice that Mr. J is participating in your joy - your passion - if even a bit.
MissScarlett
留言於2010-01-26 23:24 [举报]

Yer amazing. I have no skillz for language. Sometimes I can even be heard stumbling through English :P
World Worm Studios
留言於2010-01-26 12:01 [举报]

Guy Yao
苏颂辉
留言於2010-01-26 10:29 [举报]

Oh if only Canto spread up north...

"Add oil", Marie. (Do you know this term? It means the same thing in Mandarin and Cantonese...)