#GlobalSupport #Cantonese #CultureGenocide
[Worldwide Support for Hong Kong 3/4]
Interview with Japnese Photographer 2 of 2
Rie Nishinaka had learnt Cantonese for 2 and a half year, and when she was being interviewed by the reporter, she insisted in using Cantonese. For someone whose mother language is Japanese, the most difficult part about Cantonese is how to distinguish the tone and the subtle changes in choice of diction. Therefore, she made a booklet to help her distinguish the differences of tones, so as to help her improve her Cantonese. Rie learns Cantonese from her Hong Kong friends, “many HongKongers find it complicated, or maybe they do not know about specific details. They said after I ask them questions about Cantonese, they started to think more about their own language.”
Rie believes that one must learn Cantonese in order to directly understand HongKongers’ culture and thoughts. “I know that HongKongers can use English to communicate, but only by using Cantonese can one truly understand Hong Kong. It is rumoured that Cantonese is being suppressed by the authorities and the government does not support Cantonese. I feel sad about it, I believe my act in learning Cantonese is safeguarding Hong Kong culture.”
When Rie first started learning Cantonese, she focused on the pronunciations, “when I first started learning Cantonese, I thought the pronunciation is very difficult. But no, it is not that difficult at all.” Rie learns Cantonese in different areas, she takes initiative in learning Netizens’ slangs and foul language. For example, when she tweet about Hong Kong affairs in her twitter account, she will use the most “down-to-earth” intonations to express her anger, standing by the side of the Hong Kong protestors. She believes the foul language culture in Hong Kong is very direct, “When I go to Hong Kong, I visit the bookstore to buy Ben Sir’s (a famous Chinese professor in Hong Kong) book on foul language. Then I learn from it, and now when I am watching YouTube live, many people will use foul language, and I learn when to use that foul language. For example, from the recent 'Mr. Barbeque pork and Chicken rice' (a recent video in Hong Kong showed a man using 'Barbeque pork and Chicken rice' as a word to insult the Hong Kong police) video, I understand the feeling of speaking foul language.”
During Rie’s journey in learning Cantonese, she felt the deepest when HongKongers tell her that Cantonese is a difficult language to learn. She hoped that HongKongers will stop using the word “difficult” to describe Cantonese, “I truly believe this is not a good thing to say, when you are denying your language, you are denying your own culture. HongKongers should teach Cantonese to more people, so as to let more people know Cantonese.”
Excerpt: AppleDaily
http://bit.ly/35wTI1N
#GlobalSupport #Japan
[Worldwide Support for Hong Kong 3/4]
Interview with Japnese Photographer 2 of 2
Rie Nishinaka had learnt Cantonese for 2 and a half year, and when she was being interviewed by the reporter, she insisted in using Cantonese. For someone whose mother language is Japanese, the most difficult part about Cantonese is how to distinguish the tone and the subtle changes in choice of diction. Therefore, she made a booklet to help her distinguish the differences of tones, so as to help her improve her Cantonese. Rie learns Cantonese from her Hong Kong friends, “many HongKongers find it complicated, or maybe they do not know about specific details. They said after I ask them questions about Cantonese, they started to think more about their own language.”
Rie believes that one must learn Cantonese in order to directly understand HongKongers’ culture and thoughts. “I know that HongKongers can use English to communicate, but only by using Cantonese can one truly understand Hong Kong. It is rumoured that Cantonese is being suppressed by the authorities and the government does not support Cantonese. I feel sad about it, I believe my act in learning Cantonese is safeguarding Hong Kong culture.”
When Rie first started learning Cantonese, she focused on the pronunciations, “when I first started learning Cantonese, I thought the pronunciation is very difficult. But no, it is not that difficult at all.” Rie learns Cantonese in different areas, she takes initiative in learning Netizens’ slangs and foul language. For example, when she tweet about Hong Kong affairs in her twitter account, she will use the most “down-to-earth” intonations to express her anger, standing by the side of the Hong Kong protestors. She believes the foul language culture in Hong Kong is very direct, “When I go to Hong Kong, I visit the bookstore to buy Ben Sir’s (a famous Chinese professor in Hong Kong) book on foul language. Then I learn from it, and now when I am watching YouTube live, many people will use foul language, and I learn when to use that foul language. For example, from the recent 'Mr. Barbeque pork and Chicken rice' (a recent video in Hong Kong showed a man using 'Barbeque pork and Chicken rice' as a word to insult the Hong Kong police) video, I understand the feeling of speaking foul language.”
During Rie’s journey in learning Cantonese, she felt the deepest when HongKongers tell her that Cantonese is a difficult language to learn. She hoped that HongKongers will stop using the word “difficult” to describe Cantonese, “I truly believe this is not a good thing to say, when you are denying your language, you are denying your own culture. HongKongers should teach Cantonese to more people, so as to let more people know Cantonese.”
Excerpt: AppleDaily
http://bit.ly/35wTI1N
#GlobalSupport #Japan
#Newspaper #Cantonese
Give up Chinese Communist Language: What alternatives are there to Hongkonger colloquialisms like "xiǎosān"(小三）and "fù'èrdài"(富二代)? Journalist admits to not remembering the expression "ji6 sai3 zou2"（二世祖）
Editor's Note:
Since the Handover, Hong Kong has been subject to gradual linguistic assimilation by Mainland China. Local Cantonese expressions become lost in translation as attempts at Mainland equivalents enter common lexicon. This article provides a glimpse into current changes in descriptors of people, which reflects how parts of one's identity can become buried in the process.
In this article's translation, Cantonese expressions are written in Jyutping with numbers specifying tones and Mandarin ones in Hanyu Pinyin. Where appropriate, literal translations of terms are provided in square brackets prefaced by "lit." (e.g. [lit. rich second generation]). Those that lose contextual meaning from literal translation are in plain square brackets.
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue
Give up Chinese Communist Language: What alternatives are there to Hongkonger colloquialisms like "xiǎosān"(小三）and "fù'èrdài"(富二代)? Journalist admits to not remembering the expression "ji6 sai3 zou2"（二世祖）
Editor's Note:
Since the Handover, Hong Kong has been subject to gradual linguistic assimilation by Mainland China. Local Cantonese expressions become lost in translation as attempts at Mainland equivalents enter common lexicon. This article provides a glimpse into current changes in descriptors of people, which reflects how parts of one's identity can become buried in the process.
In this article's translation, Cantonese expressions are written in Jyutping with numbers specifying tones and Mandarin ones in Hanyu Pinyin. Where appropriate, literal translations of terms are provided in square brackets prefaced by "lit." (e.g. [lit. rich second generation]). Those that lose contextual meaning from literal translation are in plain square brackets.
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue
#Newspaper
Give up Chinese Communist Language: What alternatives are there to Hongkonger colloquialisms like "xiǎosān"(小三）and "fù'èrdài"(富二代)? Journalist admits to not remembering the expression "ji6 sai3 zou2"（二世祖）
(17 May) So, the nouveau riche are "tǔháo"(土豪) ? And their kids are "fù'èrdài"(富二代) [lit. rich second generation]? The tall and stylish "fù'èrdài" are "gāofùshuài"(高富帥) [lit. tall rich handsome]? But if the "gāofùshuài" are young, they're "xiǎoxiānròu" (小鮮肉) [lit. small fresh meat]? If they are particularly gluttonous, then they're called "chīhuò" (吃貨)[foodie]? When describing different people in our daily lives, we are slowly appropriating expressions from Mainland China. Are Hong Kong's colloquiallisms being banished?
//their equivalents are non-existent in Hong Kong. This has to do with the differences in culture between the two places... I feel that we can deliberate over their usage. Their non-existence in Cantonese is proof that we don't need those words. Doesn't this mean we can use them as little as possible?
//the media uses Mainland colloquialisms to meet the market demands, which allows Mainland culture to creep into Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is a bastion of the Cantonese dialect, we must defend its bottom line. Keep using Cantonese and minimise Mainland's colloquiallisms
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Give-up-Chinese-Communist-Language-What-alternatives-are-there-to-Hongkonger-colloquialisms-like-xiǎosān小三and-fùèrdài富二代-Journal-06-09
Source: Apple Daily
Further reading:
Interview with Japnese Photographer
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/8572
#Cantonese #HongKongIdentity
Give up Chinese Communist Language: What alternatives are there to Hongkonger colloquialisms like "xiǎosān"(小三）and "fù'èrdài"(富二代)? Journalist admits to not remembering the expression "ji6 sai3 zou2"（二世祖）
(17 May) So, the nouveau riche are "tǔháo"(土豪) ? And their kids are "fù'èrdài"(富二代) [lit. rich second generation]? The tall and stylish "fù'èrdài" are "gāofùshuài"(高富帥) [lit. tall rich handsome]? But if the "gāofùshuài" are young, they're "xiǎoxiānròu" (小鮮肉) [lit. small fresh meat]? If they are particularly gluttonous, then they're called "chīhuò" (吃貨)[foodie]? When describing different people in our daily lives, we are slowly appropriating expressions from Mainland China. Are Hong Kong's colloquiallisms being banished?
//their equivalents are non-existent in Hong Kong. This has to do with the differences in culture between the two places... I feel that we can deliberate over their usage. Their non-existence in Cantonese is proof that we don't need those words. Doesn't this mean we can use them as little as possible?
//the media uses Mainland colloquialisms to meet the market demands, which allows Mainland culture to creep into Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is a bastion of the Cantonese dialect, we must defend its bottom line. Keep using Cantonese and minimise Mainland's colloquiallisms
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Give-up-Chinese-Communist-Language-What-alternatives-are-there-to-Hongkonger-colloquialisms-like-xiǎosān小三and-fùèrdài富二代-Journal-06-09
Source: Apple Daily
Further reading:
Interview with Japnese Photographer
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/8572
#Cantonese #HongKongIdentity
Telegraph
Give up Chinese Communist Language: What alternatives are there to Hongkonger colloquialisms like "xiǎosān"(小三）and "fù'èrdài"(富二代)?…
(17 May) So, the nouveau riche are "tǔháo"(土豪) ? And their kids are "fù'èrdài"(富二代) [lit. rich second generation]? The tall and stylish "fù'èrdài" are "gāofùshuài"(高富帥) [lit. tall rich handsome]? But if the "gāofùshuài" are young, they're …
The Restaurant refusing to serve Mandarin speakers: Conversation, Pain, and Struggle
Glory Cafe, a restaurant regarded as sympathetic and supportive of the Anti-ELAB Movement, announced on Facebook on 28 January 2020 that it would stop catering to Mandarin speakers in reaction to the government’s refusal to restrict the entry of mainland visitors upon the coronavirus outbreak.
In mid-February, a group of “Hong Kong drifters” (immigrants from China who study or work in Hong Kong who may or may not be permanent residents of Hong Kong) made a visit to the Cafe for a conversation with the restaurant owner during which they ordered food in Mandarin and gifted healthcare products to the restaurant.
A series of articles reporting the event by the organiser posted later on Facebook spurred vigorous debates and criticisms. This is an excerpt from an article by the Initium (HK news media), featuring commentary by various parties, including participants of the visit.
Full translation
#Cantonese #Mandarin
Glory Cafe, a restaurant regarded as sympathetic and supportive of the Anti-ELAB Movement, announced on Facebook on 28 January 2020 that it would stop catering to Mandarin speakers in reaction to the government’s refusal to restrict the entry of mainland visitors upon the coronavirus outbreak.
In mid-February, a group of “Hong Kong drifters” (immigrants from China who study or work in Hong Kong who may or may not be permanent residents of Hong Kong) made a visit to the Cafe for a conversation with the restaurant owner during which they ordered food in Mandarin and gifted healthcare products to the restaurant.
A series of articles reporting the event by the organiser posted later on Facebook spurred vigorous debates and criticisms. This is an excerpt from an article by the Initium (HK news media), featuring commentary by various parties, including participants of the visit.
Full translation
#Cantonese #Mandarin
#NewZealand newly elected MP #JamesMcDowall vows in Cantonese at the Commission Opening as a nod to his family
As the new term begain in New Zealand's parliament on November 25, 2020, members of parliament (#mp) took their oath.
Members are allowed to state their oath in two languages if they wish, James McDowall from ACT New Zealand chose to take his vow in English and Cantonese.
McDowall explained his use of Cantonese as a nod to the other half of his family. McDowall uploaded his swearing-in video on his Facebook page, the video then went viral in Hong Kong.
In the video, McDowall firstly stated his oath in English, "I, James Samuel McDowall, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."
He then repeated it in Cantonese:
"本人James Samuel McDowall，真誠發誓，定當依據法律，對女皇陛下伊麗莎白二世，及其繼承及繼位人效忠，並會盡忠職守。願上帝助我。"
Source: Stand News #Nov27
#GlobalSupport #Oath #Cantonese
As the new term begain in New Zealand's parliament on November 25, 2020, members of parliament (#mp) took their oath.
Members are allowed to state their oath in two languages if they wish, James McDowall from ACT New Zealand chose to take his vow in English and Cantonese.
McDowall explained his use of Cantonese as a nod to the other half of his family. McDowall uploaded his swearing-in video on his Facebook page, the video then went viral in Hong Kong.
In the video, McDowall firstly stated his oath in English, "I, James Samuel McDowall, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."
He then repeated it in Cantonese:
"本人James Samuel McDowall，真誠發誓，定當依據法律，對女皇陛下伊麗莎白二世，及其繼承及繼位人效忠，並會盡忠職守。願上帝助我。"
Source: Stand News #Nov27
#GlobalSupport #Oath #Cantonese
Stanford University terminated their only Cantonese lecturer, over 3000 people signed petition to oppose the annihilation of the language
Because of the limited budget, Stanford University in California, US, discontinued their contract with the only Cantonese lecturer in the campus. With the Cantonese programme at the university on the verge of cancellation, over 3000 people has petitioned for the programme. The University has promised to provide 2 Cantonese courses in the coming academic year, but has yet to respond to the petition for lifetime contract for the lecturer.
According to Stanford Daily, Stanford University Language Centre has discontinued their contract with Dr Sik Lee Denning last December, to “lower the budget”. Dr Denning is the founding lecturer of the “Cantonese Programme”, teaching the subject for over 20 years.
The incident raised concern in the Stanford community. Jamie Tam, assistant professor in public health at Yale University, who studied undergraduate degree in Stanford, described the Cantonese Programme as life-changing, allowing her to keep in touch with Hong Kong. “The society is facing a larger issue: people no longer view Cantonese as their mother tongue and tradition, thinking all Chinese people speak the same language.” She said.
#Cantonese #Stanford #SikLeeDenning #HongKong
Source: StandNews #Jan14
https://bit.ly/3rQeAMf
Because of the limited budget, Stanford University in California, US, discontinued their contract with the only Cantonese lecturer in the campus. With the Cantonese programme at the university on the verge of cancellation, over 3000 people has petitioned for the programme. The University has promised to provide 2 Cantonese courses in the coming academic year, but has yet to respond to the petition for lifetime contract for the lecturer.
According to Stanford Daily, Stanford University Language Centre has discontinued their contract with Dr Sik Lee Denning last December, to “lower the budget”. Dr Denning is the founding lecturer of the “Cantonese Programme”, teaching the subject for over 20 years.
The incident raised concern in the Stanford community. Jamie Tam, assistant professor in public health at Yale University, who studied undergraduate degree in Stanford, described the Cantonese Programme as life-changing, allowing her to keep in touch with Hong Kong. “The society is facing a larger issue: people no longer view Cantonese as their mother tongue and tradition, thinking all Chinese people speak the same language.” She said.
#Cantonese #Stanford #SikLeeDenning #HongKong
Source: StandNews #Jan14
https://bit.ly/3rQeAMf
立場新聞 Stand News
史丹福大學擬削唯一廣東話講師 逾 3000 人聯署反對 知名作家籲聲援免廣東話滅絕 | 立場新聞
因預算不足，美國加州的史丹福大學計劃不再與該校唯一一名教授廣東話的講師續約，導致廣東話課程的存亡危在旦夕。事件...
China Sanctions 3 People and an Organisation
One of the Sanctioned People: Proud to be Sanctioned due to Speaking Out for Hong Kong and Xinjiang
The sanctions between China, Europe and United Stated have not come to an end due to Xinjiang human rights issues. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced to sanction three people and an organisation in the US and Canada last night (27th March). Canada President Trudeau responded to the sanction that it was an “unacceptable behaviour”. A Canadian Federal Representative, who has been sanctioned, Michael David Chong, indicated that he has a responsibility to speak out for Hong Kong and Uyghurs.
The father of Michael David Ching came from Hong Kong, and he also can speak Cantonese. He said, “We, the people who live in the free places with democracy and the rule of law, must speak out for silent. If this means China will sanction me, I will take it as an honour”.
Source: Stand News #Mar28
https://bit.ly/3wiGFi1
#China #Europe #UnitedStated #US #HongKong #Canada #Xinjiang #HumanRights #Sanction #Cantonese #Democracy #MichaelDavid Chong #Glory
One of the Sanctioned People: Proud to be Sanctioned due to Speaking Out for Hong Kong and Xinjiang
The sanctions between China, Europe and United Stated have not come to an end due to Xinjiang human rights issues. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced to sanction three people and an organisation in the US and Canada last night (27th March). Canada President Trudeau responded to the sanction that it was an “unacceptable behaviour”. A Canadian Federal Representative, who has been sanctioned, Michael David Chong, indicated that he has a responsibility to speak out for Hong Kong and Uyghurs.
The father of Michael David Ching came from Hong Kong, and he also can speak Cantonese. He said, “We, the people who live in the free places with democracy and the rule of law, must speak out for silent. If this means China will sanction me, I will take it as an honour”.
Source: Stand News #Mar28
https://bit.ly/3wiGFi1
#China #Europe #UnitedStated #US #HongKong #Canada #Xinjiang #HumanRights #Sanction #Cantonese #Democracy #MichaelDavid Chong #Glory
#CulturalGenocide
China Pushes 85% of Population Speaking Putonghua by 2025 Even Among Ethnic Minorities
The #PRCgovernment is stepping up efforts to popularize #Putonghua in China, claiming that the use of putonghua remains “unbalanced and inadequate” and needs to be improved to meet the demands of the modern economy.
For the first time, the #PRC government named the two Special Administrative Regions, #HongKong and #Macau, for the new policy.
On November 30, the General Office of the State Council issued a set of new policies on language for #PRC, “Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Comprehensively Strengthening Language and Writing Work in the New Era (關於全面加強新時代語言文字工作的意見)”.
The policy stressed the importance of speaking and using a standardized language, saying that the authorities will “unswervingly" promote the usage among ethnic minorities and in rural areas.
It also set a goal for the national penetration rate of Putonghua to reach 85% by 2025. Along with the 2025 goal, the policy aims to make Putonghua virtually universal by 2035, including in rural areas and among #EthnicMinorities.
The media described the new order as an “aggressive push” to the Chinese regional dialects such as #Cantonese and #Hokkien under even greater pressure, along with #minority languages such as #Tibetan, #Mongolian and #Uyghur.
Critics have protested the changes to the education system and employment requirements that have steadily eroded the role of minority languages. They call it a campaign to eradicate cultures that do not conform with the dominant ethnic group.
#CCP #China #MotherTongue #Language #Assimilation
Source: RFA #Dec2; Bloomberg, #Dec1
https://www.facebook.com/454004001340790/posts/6502480579826405/
China Pushes 85% of Population Speaking Putonghua by 2025 Even Among Ethnic Minorities
The #PRCgovernment is stepping up efforts to popularize #Putonghua in China, claiming that the use of putonghua remains “unbalanced and inadequate” and needs to be improved to meet the demands of the modern economy.
For the first time, the #PRC government named the two Special Administrative Regions, #HongKong and #Macau, for the new policy.
On November 30, the General Office of the State Council issued a set of new policies on language for #PRC, “Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Comprehensively Strengthening Language and Writing Work in the New Era (關於全面加強新時代語言文字工作的意見)”.
The policy stressed the importance of speaking and using a standardized language, saying that the authorities will “unswervingly" promote the usage among ethnic minorities and in rural areas.
It also set a goal for the national penetration rate of Putonghua to reach 85% by 2025. Along with the 2025 goal, the policy aims to make Putonghua virtually universal by 2035, including in rural areas and among #EthnicMinorities.
The media described the new order as an “aggressive push” to the Chinese regional dialects such as #Cantonese and #Hokkien under even greater pressure, along with #minority languages such as #Tibetan, #Mongolian and #Uyghur.
Critics have protested the changes to the education system and employment requirements that have steadily eroded the role of minority languages. They call it a campaign to eradicate cultures that do not conform with the dominant ethnic group.
#CCP #China #MotherTongue #Language #Assimilation
Source: RFA #Dec2; Bloomberg, #Dec1
https://www.facebook.com/454004001340790/posts/6502480579826405/
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