ChineseLesson 2 of 2 in the course Chinese grammar and varieties

Cantonese: History, Writing, Pronunciation, and Romanization

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces Cantonese as a language variety, explains its relationship to Yue Chinese, and distinguishes Cantonese proper from broader uses of the word Cantonese.

Cantonese is the traditional prestige variety of Yue Chinese, a Sinitic language group within the Sino-Tibetan language family. It originated in Guangzhou, historically known in English as Canton, and the surrounding Pearl River Delta. Guangzhou’s historical importance as a regional cultural and commercial center helped the local variety gain prestige.

All flashcards

How is Cantonese classified?
It is a Sinitic language variety within Yue Chinese, which belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family.
What is the difference between Cantonese proper and broad Cantonese?
Cantonese proper usually means the prestige Guangzhou variety. Broad Cantonese may refer to the wider Yue subgroup, including varieties such as Taishanese.
What is written vernacular Cantonese?
A written form using colloquial Cantonese words and characters, common in informal settings.
What are changed tones in Cantonese?
Different tones taken by a character in particular words or contexts.
What does romanization do for Cantonese?
It represents Cantonese pronunciation using the Latin alphabet.

Quiz questions

  1. Which historical change contributed to migration from the Pearl River Delta after the First Opium War?Answer: The end of maritime prohibitions.
  2. Which pair of languages has official status in Macau?Answer: Chinese and Portuguese.
  3. Which set of final stop consonants can occur in Cantonese syllables?Answer: /p/, /t/, and /k/.
  4. Which organization has promoted Jyutping?Answer: The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong.
  5. In traditional descriptions of Cantonese, what are checked tones?Answer: Tone categories associated with syllables ending in stop consonants.

Based on the Wikipedia article Cantonese, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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