Английская Википедия:Hong Kong Cantonese
Шаблон:EngvarB Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Short description
Шаблон:Infobox language Шаблон:Demographics and Culture of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Cantonese is a dialect of the Cantonese language of the Sino-Tibetan family.
Although Hongkongers refer to the language as "Cantonese" (Шаблон:Lang), publications in mainland China describe the variant as Hong Kong dialect (Шаблон:Lang), due to the differences between the pronunciation used in Hong Kong Cantonese and that of the Cantonese spoken in neighbouring Guangdong Province where Cantonese (based on the Guangzhou dialect) is a lingua franca.
Over the years, Hong Kong Cantonese has also absorbed foreign terminology and developed a large set of Hong Kong-specific terms. Code-switching with English is also common. These are the result of British rule between 1841 and 1997, as well as the closure of the Hong Kong–mainland China border immediately after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
History
Шаблон:Refimprove Before the arrival of British settlers in 1842, the inhabitants of Hong Kong mainly spoke the Dongguan-Bao'an (Tungkun–Po'on)[1] and Tanka dialects of Yue, as well as Hakka[2] and Teochew. These languages and dialects are all remarkably different from Guangzhou Cantonese, and not mutually intelligible.
After the British acquired Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories from the Qing in 1841 (officially 1842) and 1898, large numbers Шаблон:Quantify of merchants and workers came to Hong Kong from the city of Canton, the main centre of Cantonese. Cantonese became the dominant spoken language in Hong Kong. The extensive migration from mainland Cantonese-speaking areas to Hong Kong continued up until 1949, when the Communists took over mainland China.
In 1949, the year that the People's Republic of China was established, Hong Kong saw a large influx of refugees from mainland China, prompting the Hong Kong Government to close its border.Шаблон:Citation needed Illegal immigration from mainland China into Hong Kong nevertheless continued. During the 1950s, the Cantonese spoken in Hong Kong remained very similar to that in Canton, but the proportion of Cantonese speakers did not surpass 50% of the population in Hong Kong.[1]
Movement, communication and relations between Hong Kong and mainland China became very limited, and consequently the evolution of Cantonese in Hong Kong diverged from that of Guangzhou. In mainland China, the use of Mandarin as the official language and in education was enforced. In Hong Kong, Cantonese is the medium of instruction in schools, along with written English and written Chinese. As such, since the 1970s the percentage of Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong has risen to about 90%.[1]
Because of the long exposure to English during the colonial period, a large number of English words were loaned into Hong Kong Cantonese, e.g. "巴士" (IPA: /páːsǐː/, Cantonese Jyutping: baa1 si2), from the English "bus"; compare this with the equivalent from Standard Mandarin, 公共汽車 (Шаблон:Zh). Consequently, the vocabularies of Cantonese in mainland China and Hong Kong substantially differ.[1] Moreover, the pronunciation of Cantonese changed while the change either did not occur in mainland China or took place much more slowly. For example, merging of initial Шаблон:IPA into Шаблон:IPA and the deletion of Шаблон:IPA were observed.
Phonology
In modern-day Hong Kong, many native speakers no longer distinguish between certain phoneme pairs, leading to instances of sound change through mergers. Although considered non-standard and denounced as "lazy sound" (Шаблон:Lang) by purists, the phenomena are widespread and not restricted to Hong Kong.[3] Contrary to impressions, some of these changes are not recent. The loss of the velar nasal (Шаблон:IPA) was documented by Williams (1856), and the substitution of the liquid nasal (Шаблон:IPA) for the nasal initial (Шаблон:IPA) was documented by Cowles (1914).
List of observed shifts:[4]
- Merging of Шаблон:IPA initial into Шаблон:IPA initial.
- Merging of Шаблон:IPA initial into null initial.
- Merging of Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA initials into Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA when followed by Шаблон:IPA. Note that Шаблон:IPA is the only glide (Шаблон:Lang) in Cantonese.
- Merging of Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA codas into Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA codas respectively, eliminating contrast between these pairs of finals (except after Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPAШаблон:Clarify): Шаблон:IPA-Шаблон:IPA, Шаблон:IPA-Шаблон:IPA, Шаблон:IPA-Шаблон:IPA, Шаблон:IPA-Шаблон:IPA, Шаблон:IPA-Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA-Шаблон:IPA.
- Merging of the two syllabic nasals, Шаблон:IPA into Шаблон:IPA, eliminating the contrast of sounds between Шаблон:Lang (surname Ng) and Шаблон:Lang (not).
- Merging of the rising tones (Шаблон:Lang 2nd and Шаблон:Lang 5th).[5]
In educated Hong Kong Cantonese speech, these sound mergers are avoided, and many older speakers still distinguish between those phoneme categories. With the sound changes, the name of Hong Kong's Hang Seng Bank (Шаблон:Lang), Jyutping: Шаблон:Transliteration, Шаблон:IPA, literally Hong Kong Constant Growth Bank, becomes Шаблон:IPA, sounding like Hon' Kon' itchy body 'un cold (Шаблон:Lang). The name of Cantonese itself (Шаблон:Lang, "Guangdong speech") would be Jyutping: Шаблон:Transliteration, IPA: Шаблон:IPA without the merger, whereas Шаблон:IPA (sounding like "Шаблон:Lang": "say eastern speech") and Шаблон:IPA (sounding like "Шаблон:Lang" : "chase away eastern speech") are overwhelmingly common in Hong Kong.[6]
The shift affects the way some Hong Kong people speak other languages as well. This is especially evident in the pronunciation of certain English names: "Nicole" pronounce Шаблон:IPA, "Nancy" pronounce Шаблон:IPA etc. A very common example of the mixing of Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA is that of the word Шаблон:Lang, meaning "you". Even though the standard pronunciation should be Шаблон:IPA, the word is often pronounced Шаблон:IPA, which is the surname Шаблон:Lang, or the word Шаблон:Lang, meaning theory. The merger of Шаблон:IPA and Шаблон:IPA also affects the choice of characters when the Cantonese media transliterates foreign names. Шаблон:Citation needed
Prescriptivists who try to correct these "lazy sounds" often end up introducing hypercorrections. For instance, while attempting to ensure that people pronounce the initial Шаблон:IPA, they may introduce it into words which have historically had a null-initial.[3] One common example is that of the word Шаблон:Lang, meaning "love", where even though the standard pronunciation is Jyutping: Шаблон:Transliteration, IPA: Шаблон:IPA, the word is often pronounced Jyutping: Шаблон:Transliteration, Шаблон:IPA. A similar phenomenon occurs in various Mandarin dialects (e.g. Southwestern Mandarin).[7]
Unique phrases and expressions
Шаблон:Noreferences Hong Kong Cantonese has developed a number of phrases and expressions that are unique to the context of Hong Kong. Examples are:
| Colloquial Cantonese Expressions(pronunciation) | Literally | Colloquially | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Lang (lei4 pou2)
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: He's an hour late. So outrageous! |
depart from the score | absurd/outrageous/ridiculous/illogical | music score |
| Шаблон:Lang (zong6 baan2)
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: He is always so impulsive, no wonder he's got into trouble this time. |
conflicting beat | make mistakes/get into trouble | beat in Cantonese Opera |
| Шаблон:Lang (cyun3)
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: Do you have to be so harsh? |
skewer/to string/vulgar | harsh/extreme bluntness, lack of tact | colloquial usage for police handcuffing, broadened to incorporate harsh expression generally; alternatively, by modification of the tone value for "vulgar" |
| Шаблон:Lang (si6 daan6)
Example: A: Шаблон:Lang B: Шаблон:Lang English: A: Where do you want to go to eat? B: Anything will do! |
is/yes but | whatever/anything will do/I'm easy |
derived from Шаблон:Lang (si3 mo4 gei6 daan6, disregard of constraints) |
| Шаблон:Lang (dung1 gwaa1 dau6 fu6)
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: I would be miserable if you died. |
winter melon tofu | to die | votive food offerings at funerals |
Loanwords
Life in Hong Kong is characterised by the blending of southern Chinese with other Asian and Western cultures, as well as the city's position as a major international business centre. In turn, Hong Kong influences have spread widely into other cultures. As a result, a large number of loanwords are created in Hong Kong and then exported to mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan. Some of the loanwords have become even more popular than their Chinese counterparts, in Hong Kong as well as in their destination cultures.Шаблон:Source? Note that some of the loanwords are being used much more frequently in Cantonese-speaking areas in mainland China (e.g. Guangzhou), than in areas speaking other Chinese varieties.
Imported loanwords
Selected loanwords[8] are shown below.
From English
From French
| Chinese Characters | Jyutping | French | English | Mainland Chinese Mandarin |
Taiwanese Mandarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Lang | so1 fu4 lei4 | soufflé | soufflé | Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | gu2 lung4 | cologne | perfume | Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | laang1 | laine | yarn | Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
From Japanese
| Chinese Characters | Jyutping | Japanese | Japanese Rōmaji | English | Mainland Chinese Mandarin |
Taiwanese Mandarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Lang | kaa1 laa1 ou1 kei1 | Шаблон:Lang | karaoke | karaoke | Шаблон:LangOK | Шаблон:LangOK |
| Шаблон:Lang | lou5 sai3 | Шаблон:Lang | setainushi | chief (CEO) the Head (of a company) boss |
Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | gaan1 baa1 de1 | Шаблон:Lang | ganbatte | Keep up! (studying) Come on! (cheering) |
Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | fong3 tai4 | Шаблон:Lang | tabe hōdai | buffet | Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | long6 maan6 | Шаблон:Lang | rōman | romantic | Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang |
Exported loanwords
Into English
| English | Chinese Characters | Jyutping |
|---|---|---|
| add oil | Шаблон:Lang | gaa1 jau2 |
| chop chop (hurry up) | Шаблон:Lang | cuk1 cuk1 |
| kowtow | Шаблон:Lang | kau3 tau4 |
| typhoon | Шаблон:Lang | toi4 fung1 |
| ketchup | Шаблон:Lang | ke4 zap1 |
Into Mainland Chinese Mandarin
| Mandarin | Cantonese | Jyutping | English | Mandarin synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | maai4 daan1 | (Can we please have the) bill? | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | paak3 dong3 | partner | Шаблон:Lang (in ownership and business) Шаблон:Lang (in dancing) |
| Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | daap3 dik1 si2 | to ride a taxi | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang, corruption of Шаблон:Lang | mou4 lei4 tau4 | nonsensical humour (see mo lei tau) newbie who knows nothing |
Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang/Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | leng3 zai2 | handsome boy | Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang (in China only) |
| Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | paak3 to1 | dating | Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | hou2 zeng3 | (colloquial) awesome; perfect; just right | Шаблон:Lang |
| Шаблон:Lang/Шаблон:Lang | Шаблон:Lang | gaau2 dim6 | Is it done yet? (It's) Done! It has been taken care of! |
Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang |
Into Taiwanese Mandarin
| Taiwanese Mandarin | Hanyu Pinyin | Cantonese | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Lang | (hóu) sāiléi | Шаблон:Lang | hou2 sai1 lei6 | (very) impressive |
| Шаблон:Lang[9] | hòu zhù | Шаблон:Lang | hou1 jyu6 | hold on hang tight (hang in there) |
Into Japanese
| Japanese Kana (Kanji) | Japanese Rōmaji | Chinese Characters | Jyutping | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang) | yamucha | Шаблон:Lang | jam2 caa4 | yum cha |
| Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang) | chāshū | Шаблон:Lang | caa1 siu1 | char siu |
| Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang) | chāhan | Шаблон:Lang | caau2 faan6 | fried rice |
Code-switching and loanword adaptation
Шаблон:Main Hong Kong Cantonese has a high number of foreign loanwords. Sometimes, the parts of speech of the incorporated words are changed. In some examples, some new meanings of English words are even created. For example, "Шаблон:Langyeah", literally "the most yeah", means "the trendiest". Originally, "yeah" means "yes/okay" in English, but it means "trendy" when being incorporated into Hong Kong Cantonese (Cf. "yeah baby" and French "yé-yé").
Semantic change is common in loanwords; when foreign words are borrowed into Cantonese, polysyllabic words and monosyllabic words tend to become disyllabic, and the second syllable is in the Upper Rising tone (the second tone). For example, "kon1 si2" (coins), "sek6 kiu1" (security) and "ka1 si2" (cast). A few polysyllabic words become monosyllabic though, like "mon1" (monitor), literally means computer monitor. And some new Cantonese lexical items are created according to the morphology of Cantonese. For example, "laai1 Шаблон:Lang" from the word "library". Most of the disyllabic words and some of the monosyllabic words are incorporated as their original pronunciation, with some minor changes according to the Cantonese phonotactics.
Incorporating words from foreign languages into Cantonese is acceptable to most Cantonese speakers. Hong Kong Cantonese speakers frequently code-mix although they can distinguish foreign words from Cantonese ones. For instance, "Шаблон:Lang make sense", literally means "that doesn't make sense". After a Cantonese speaker decides to code-mix a foreign word in a Cantonese sentence, syntactical rules of Cantonese will be followed. For instance, "sure" (Шаблон:Lang) can be used like "Шаблон:Lang su1 Шаблон:Lang su1 aa3?" (are you sure?) as if it were its Cantonese counterpart "Шаблон:Lang?", using the A-not-A question construction.
In some circumstances, code-mixing is preferable because it can simplify sentences. An excellent example (though dated) of the convenience and efficiency of such mixing is "Шаблон:Lang collect call" replacing "Шаблон:Lang", i.e. 13 syllables reduced to four.[10]
Short-text adaptations
Abbreviation
Abbreviations are commonly used in Hong Kong and have flourished with the use of short messaging over the Internet. Some examples:
| Original term | Abbreviated term | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Cantonese: Шаблон:Lang(m4 zi1) English: do not know | 5G (ng5 G)
Example: Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang English: A: Do you know who is Peter? B: I don't know (5G). |
The "5" here is not pronounced as "five" but in Cantonese "ng5", which corresponds to the Chinese word "Шаблон:Lang" (ng5). Since "五"(ng5) and "Шаблон:Lang" (m4), "Шаблон:Lang" (zi1) and "G" have similar pronunciations, "5G" is used to replace the Cantonese term 唔知, which carries the meaning of "don't know". |
| Cantonese:Шаблон:Lang(zung1 ji3) English: Like | 中2 (zung3 ji6)
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: I like (中2 zung3 ji6) him so much! |
Due to similar pronunciation, the "2" here is pronounced as the Chinese "Шаблон:Lang" (ji6) rather than "two". Combining this number with the Chinese character "Шаблон:Lang" (zung3), it carries similar pronunciation as "Шаблон:Lang"(zung1 ji3) but the structure is much simpler. |
| Cantonese:Шаблон:Lang (si1 naai1) English: Housewife | C9
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: You dress like a housewife(C9). |
The word C9 should be pronounced in English "C nine", which is very similar to Cantonese si1 naai1. It is an easier form of typing the word "師奶" without changing the meaning in Cantonese. The two characters are already on the keyboard so it is much simpler to type. |
| 7-Eleven (7-11) | Se-fun(Шаблон:Lang)/ Chat1 Jai2(Шаблон:Lang）
Example: Шаблон:Lang English : Let's go 7-Eleven (Se-fun Шаблон:Lang) to buy some drinks. |
"Chat1" is the Chinese word of seven and "Jai2" is son or boy |
| Take Away(Шаблон:Lang) | Haang4 Gai1(Шаблон:Lang) (literal: walk on the street)
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: Fish Ball Noodles for take-away! (Haang4 Gai1 Шаблон:Lang) |
This abbreviation is often used in Hong Kong-style cafés for take-away. |
| Uh-huh | 55
Example: Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang English: A: Do you need to attend school today? B:Yea.(55) |
Homophonic for "ng ng" (Шаблон:Lang) which indicates agreement or understanding. |
| Post (Шаблон:Lang) | po
Example: Шаблон:Lang English: I posted (po) a photo. |
example of common omission of final consonant (not naturally occurring in Cantonese) |
See also
- Bilingualism in Hong Kong
- Cantonese profanity
- Code-switching in Hong Kong
- Proper Cantonese pronunciation
- Comparison of national standards of Chinese
- Hong Kong English
- The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, whose Cantonese Romanization Scheme is known as Jyutping
- Varieties of Chinese
References
Further reading
External links
- Learn Cantonese (with Cantonese-English / English-Cantonese Dictionary)
- Learn Chinese with Chinese Lyrics Now with Pinyin and sound files
- Jyutping romanisation of Cantonese reading of Chinese characters using in Hong Kong
Шаблон:Hong Kong topics Шаблон:Languages of China Шаблон:Authority control
