Hey peoples, for a while now, I realize that my canto accent isn't the best since I'm a CBC (canadian born chinese) and didn't go to chinese school or anything. However, considering that fact, I still speak canto quite fluently... at least, better than most people I know who aren't from China or haven't taken lessons. Part of that reason is probably cuz I can't write or read any chinese at all. When I watch TVB dramas and etc., I can understand nearly everything they say. Only things I can't understand are particular phrases such as the old people phrases such as the ones Heart of Greed uses so often or song lyrics. So basically, I am guessing that my canto has a hint of an english strain to it (I'm really not sure, but that's what a friend said who doesn't even speak canto or the sterotypical outsider accent. What I really want to get is some advice on some common or even rare mistakes to improve my canto accent. I know that improving any accent during adolescence is very tough, but this is more like a hobby or an interest of mine, so I will provide more effort (than in school even XD) to try to improve it. Sooo if anyone here is pretty pro at canto, any type of advice would be really appreciated. I already watch loads of dramas and learn tons of vocab by asking my parents, but an accent isn't something that can be asked if it is done right or wrong, which means advice is the next best thing. Since I've been speaking canto since I was born, I am hoping that my accent isn't totally off like the white ppl's kind (not meant to offend anybody there) and can be easily improved if I take a little bit of time to manage it. I already fixed my pronounciation of certain types of words ever since my friends commented on it, so next step is to improve my accent. Thanks in advance ppls! P.S. Sorry for the super long post, this is probably all just background info if anyone bothers to take the time to read it. Title basically gives u what I want lol
Like kdot says you need to speak more canto. Also, you need to speak more canto with other canto people, besides your parents.
Go to HK and live there for a while. That should help your canto improve.. Better still, go there for Cantonese course or something like that
yes i agree, the more u speak it and the more u interact with ppl with the correct accent, the better ur accent will be.
practice makes perfect... force urself to change the accent/tones and after a while it'll turn natural (could take a while.. but as long as it does its job) consider going to chinese schools to learn... and find new friends and just speak canto only =)
lol yer, talk , and hear it , lol, and try and get the "YUM" right, coz if you get the Yum wrong, it could mean something else
ok la.. ho la... ok gwa... lolz hahahaha random sentence endings sounding like a fob... def work ga!!
Yes, to improve on cantonese accent definitely need to expose yourself to other cantonese speakers. The best place I can think of for free cantonese chatting is joining one of the chinese churches because they usually have lots of cantonese speakers. Once in there just speak to anyone cantonese.
Even if you're immersed in the culture, you still need to make the effort. I've two friends that moved to HK to improve their chinese. One, actually made the effort to learn - talk to people, relatives, etc. The other hung out with all the expats from Australia, US, Britian, and her chinese is probably worse now (haha) But yes, to the point -> you gotta make the conscious effort
like they say "practice makes perfect" It takes time, but da more u use it da better u going to be at it.
Try thinking in Cantonese only. Don't laugh, you'll be surprise at how easily words then come to you and before long, you'll be speaking like an accentless native. Ralph
yeah like many said, hang out with more canto speakers (HK canto is prob what you would prob want to sound in terms of vocab use) my canto has improved so much for hanging around with fobs. it started with being corrected alot to now they dont even realise, or anyone realises i have an accent for that matter =)
