Cantonese is predominantly a spoken language, and its written form is primarily used in modern and informal contexts, such as text messages. For formal written documents, Standard Chinese is employed. This distinction poses challenges for researching the usage of Cantonese in earlier times, as there are limited audio recordings and written texts available. Consequently, for spoken Cantonese in the 19th century, only a few sources, such as language learning books from that period, exist.
The book Cantonese since the 19th Century by Hung-Nin Samuel Cheung, published by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, is a collection of several articles that examine this topic in greater detail. Since these articles were previously published in scientific journals, they are loosely connected to one another. Additionally, the academic language used may challenging for readers unfamiliar with such terminology, potentially hindering their engagement with the subject.
In the articles, the author attempts to reconstruct early spoken Cantonese by examining various sources, including language manuals, popular songs and their rhyme schemes, as well as village names found on old maps of Hong Kong. Overall, readers who are familiar with Cantonese can gain valuable insights into the history of the language, as well as an understanding of the different dialects within Guangdong Province. Moreover, this book serves as an initial introduction to language research, though it may not be an easy read for all.
As a Cantonese learner, I found the examination of grammar topics particularly interesting. For instance, one article explores the evolution of question formation, highlighting how the structure Verb + Not + Verb (verb 唔 verb…呀?) has become the predominant form in contemporary spoken Cantonese. Additionally, I learned about the changes in word usage, such as the transition from the perfective aspect marker 曉 to the currently used 咗.
Cantonese since the 19th Century
Hung-Nin Samuel Cheung
The Chinese University of Hong Kong 2023 (ISBN: 978-988-237-253-5)
361 pages; also available in Chinese