Chatty Cantonese | 粵語白白講

This episode features an interview with Dr. Zoe Wai-Man Lam, a lecturer in Cantonese at the University of British Columbia and the main instructor and curriculum advisor for the Cantonese Saturday School at the Mon Keang School in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. Dr. Lam has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia as well as both a masters and bachelors from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Our conversation focuses on Zoe’s experiences with teaching Cantonese within the Vancouver community and how language learning can help bring people together across cultures and generations.

Resources and organizations mentioned in this episode:

• Cantonese Saturday School by the Youth Collaborative for Chinatown
• Mong Keang School
• Wong Benevolent Association of Canada
• UBC Cantonese Language Program
• Rooted: Chinese Canadian Stories in Burnaby
• Chinese Canadian Museum
• The Stephen Au Show
• The Hanmoji Handbook

Episode transcript and vocabulary

This episode features the conclusion of our conversation with Jennifer Feeley. Where in previous episodes we discussed specific Hong Kong literature that Jennifer has translated, here she shares some advice for anyone interested in getting into literary translation. We are also thrilled to announce that since taping this episode, the American Literary Translators’ Association has announced two emerging translator mentorships for Hong Kong literature, including one with Jennifer. We have included a link to the details in the show notes and encourage listeners to apply.

今集節目係我哋同 Jennifer Feeley 對話嘅尾聲。喺上兩集我哋討論過 Jennifer 翻譯過嘅香港文學作品，今集佢為有興趣進入文學翻譯嘅朋友分享一啲建議。我哋亦好高興宣布，自從錄咗呢集之後，美國文學翻譯家協會就宣布咗兩個香港文學新興翻譯導師計劃，Jennifer 就係其中一位導師。我哋喺節目簡介入面加入咗詳情連結，並鼓勵各位聽眾申請。

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Making Space, edited by Nicolette Wong
• Cantonese Love Stories, by Dung Kai-cheung
• Atlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City, by Dung Kai-cheung
• 《小男人周記》
• 《穿Kenzo的女人》
• Pei Pei the Monkey King, by Wa Wa, translated by Henry Wei Leuung
• Owlish, by Dorothy Tse, translated by Natasha Bruce

Translation resources:

• ALTA Emerging Translators Mentorship Program (with two mentorships for Hong Kong literature)

Episode transcript

This episode features the second portion of our conversation with the award-winning literary translator Jennifer Feeley. Where last time we learned about her journey to Cantonese and her work translating the poetry and prose of the Hong Kong author Xi Xi, this time we hear about her recent translation of the psychological thriller Tongueless, by Lau Yee-Wa. Set in a Hong Kong secondary school, it zeroes in on the pressure-cooker environment faced by contract teachers as they navigate the shifting linguistic landscape between Cantonese and Mandarin. Make sure to tune in next time for the third and final installment of our conversation where Jennifer shares tips for getting into literary translation.

今集係我哋同得獎文學翻譯家費正華 Jennifer Feeley 對話嘅第二部分。上次我哋了解咗佢同粵語嘅淵源同埋翻譯香港作家西西嘅詩歌同散文作品，今次我哋會聽佢最近翻譯劉綺華嘅驚悚小說《失語》Tongueless 。小說以香港一間中學為背景，講述合約教師喺廣東話同普通話之間變化緊嘅語言環境之下面對嘅無形壓力工作環境。下次記得收聽埋我哋對話第三部分最後一集，Jennifer 會分享有關文學翻譯嘅竅門。

Lean more about Tongueless 

Episode transcript

In this episode we interview the award-winning literary translator Jennifer Feeley. Jennifer has helped introduce English-language readers around the world to a variety of works of Hong Kong poetry and fiction. She has been particularly prolific this year—her translation of Lau Yee-Wa’s novel Tongueless came out in June, and her translation of Xi Xi’s Mourning a Breast just came out this month. Our conversation with Jennifer is split into three parts, with this portion focusing on how she came to learn Cantonese and the language politics of translating Xi Xi. The next episode focuses on her work on Tongueless, while the final episode digs into what it takes to become a literary translator.

Links to Jennifer's recent translations:
Mourning a Breast
Tongueless 

Measure words (also referred to as "classifiers" in linguistics, or 量詞/loeng6 ci4) appear in multiple languages, but they have some special functions in Cantonese. Today we begin to discuss what to watch out for when studying or teaching them, as well as some of the ways that their usage differs between Cantonese and Mandarin. 

In this episode, we are joined by Israel, Kenny, and Samuel from the podcast seoi6 jin4 kwong4 soeng2. In that podcast, the trio uses Cantonese to discuss learning just about every other language in the world, and we highly recommend it to listeners of Chatty Cantonese. Another portion of our conversation appeared on the seoi6 jin4 kwong4 soeng2 feed back in January, so once you finish this episode, you might as well listen to the other part–you’ll find a link in the show notes. 

以下呢一集係特備對談節目，我哋今次有《絮言狂想》播客節目嘅以色列、靳尼同三苗加入。 喺佢哋嘅播客裏面，三位主持使用粵語討論學習世間上幾乎所有其他語言嘅趣事，我哋特別推薦畀《粵語白白講》嘅聽眾。 我哋對話嘅另一部分已經喺一月份嘅《絮言狂想》節目中出現過，所以你聽完呢一集之後，不妨聽埋節目另一部分——你會喺我哋嘅節目說明中搵到連結。

Vocabulary and transcript
絮言狂想
TypeDuck
Hong Kong Code-Mixing Dictionary
Refold Cantonese

Born and raised in Canada, Allan Lau is a versatile musician, doing everything from orchestrating movie scores to crafting commercial theme tracks for multinational corporations. He is also a voice artist and bass singer, bringing to life video game characters and movie trailers.

Duck Lau Cho Tak is an award-winning Hong Kong musician/composer actively engaged in various music scenes. He is also an experienced singer, having served as chorus member and performance director for numerous concerts and records.

In this second part of our interview, we discuss some principles and interesting aspects of Cantonese voiceover work and lyric writing.

劉熙信係一名全方位音樂人，從事歌曲及廣告音樂製作、電影電視配樂同電子遊戲聲效設計。

劉祖德係著名香港音樂人/作曲人，有份參與監製、作曲或編曲，亦曾喺眾多歌星嘅演唱會及唱片中擔任和音及演繹指導。

今集係訪問嘅第二部分，我哋討論到粵語配音同填詞嘅一啲原則同趣事。

Vocabulary/transcript

Welcome to Season 3 of Chatty Cantonese! We start things off with a double-interview with two notable figures from the world of Cantopop, Allan Lau and Duck Lau. In addition to talking about their own musical experiences, the pair explain some Cantopop history and how newbies can learn more about the genre and its connection with Hong Kong culture.

Link to vocabulary and transcript

Inspired by a listener question, this episode addresses an issue all beginning Cantonese students face: in thanking someone, when should you use do1 ze6 (多謝) and when should you use m4 goi1 (唔該)?  The underlying principle becomes clear with the help of a few  hypothetical situations.

Transcript and vocabulary

A discussion about where Hongkongers found cool refreshment in the olden days leads Raymond to share some unique drinks. Wonder what "a monk jumping into the ocean" is? Or how you could drink "veggie honey?" Listen to find out.

Vocabulary and transcript