Hey, I was just looking at the Cantonese library to see what new content people have been important and I found the new mini stories: Conéctate - LingQ
Unfortunately the mini stories are written in standard written chinese and the narrator is speaking in Cantonese. This means what is being said and whats written down are two completely different things (but with the same meaning).
When I was a beginner this confused me a lot so I really think it would be better to get the stories written in Cantonese, and not standard Chinese.
I think it was just some confusion by the uploader, or a miscommunication between the volunteers who sent the content in.
I’ve edited stories 9 and 10 so that the narration matches the text exactly (any user can edit I believe, but make sure you know what you’re doing), and I’ll do a couple more each day. The quality of the audio (language issues aside) is excellent-clear, pleasant voice and professionally recorded.
I like you like some of the stuff I’ve uploaded Luke, even if it’s quite easy for you-trying to get good audio/text of 男人唔可以窮 is proving a challenge.
You are right, the audio is super high quality and really well recorded, well done whoever did the recording.
For the mini stories, I have had a quick look at number 9 and the audio matches up with the text now, but can I ask why you decided to use simplified characters? As most Cantonese material comes from hk. Either way that is your preference.
I am sorry, I dont understand what you are saying in that last sentence? Ive never listened to the audio of 男人唔可以窮, I have only read the book and then watched the film after.
I didn’t make the simplified/traditional decision. That said, most Cantonese speakers are in Guangdong, not HK, and on WeChat etc they (usually) write in simplified.
Personally I’d favor using both, I think that’s the simplest way to learn and people get used to the difference very quickly (myself as an example)… Polyglot and Chinese teacher Terry Waltz said she does this in classes. One class they’re reading a text that says 醫生 and the next one it says 医生 and she quickly points out the difference and moves on.
If we can ONLY use one, I suppose traditional would be the best choice.
Sorry I was inclear there-I meant I hope you’ve enjoyed the material I’ve shared. I’ve been scouring the internet for free Cantonese material (with audio/text!) and uploading. To me that’s the biggest challenge vs Mandarin-the lack of good content. One thing I’ve made public is the first part of 男人唔可以窮。
ok I see, yeah youre right I think being able to read both is useful. But for me at least it was easier to focus on one initially and then branch out after because by the time I got used to traditional it wasn´t very hard to learn simplified after. (The reason I think traditional is a better start for Cantonese is because they have books on hk golden like 男人唔可以窮 and a lot of comic books and manga sold in hk are in Cantonese,)
Also, please check out the article on stephen krashen I imported. If you like there are other articles and books you can import as well, just most books do not have audio
In my opinion Cantonese needs to be written in traditional. There are quite a few characters that can’t be written in simplified. Like 嗰 and 喺 for example. Like if I wanted to write 嗰個 how would you do that in simplified? 嗰个 ？个 个 ？ And as 係 gets simplified into 系, instances where 喺 should be used would have to be ignored if you wanted to do it in simplified. These two characters are of the most common characters and are reason enough to keep it written in traditional. But there are other Cantonese characters that would have this kinda effect too. Some might think this is a petty reason but to me these cool little characters are part of what makes Cantonese distinct from standard Chinese. 嗰 and 喺 also have a tone distinction from 個 and 係 too.
Secondly I think simplified characters are communist trash and are in no way easier to learn than traditional. Maybe only if you ever made it to the basic level but any Chinese learner who wants to actually read in Chinese will face almost every simplified radical somewhere else in a less common character. You actually end up needing to know more in simplified. Just a sad waste of culture and they are so ugly. lol my opinion
So you would write it like 嗰个? There my previous point is proven: simplified has more to remember than traditional. You start off learning 让 确 邻ect… But later you will have to learn 壤,嚷,瀼,商榷,粼粼 which have no simplifications… And there are thousands of examples of this. Simplified makes itself look stupid and since no one hand writes it’s totally pointless now. In every aspect of it there is no need for it except to keep meaningful words with profound meaning out of the knowledge of Chinese citizens. Like constitution from 憲 to 宪, just rings communist power tripping. I could go on forever. It’s a great subject to self study.
Anyway, of course you can do as you please. Just stating my opinion and what I would rather.
Whether to use simplified or traditional isn’t my decision, I don’t work for LingQ.
I live in China and want to continue doing so, so while I appreciate your thoughts on the political motivations of simplified, I don’t really have any comments.
I’ve finished converting stories 1-10 so they exactly match the audio provided. If I’ve made any typos please forgive me and correct them, I’m learning Cantonese too.
Regarding traditional vs simplified, some stories are one, some are the other. I didn’t change them, I left them as is, so LingQ can make a decision later on.