fbpx
Connect with us

Lifestyle

Cantonese Spoken in Malaysia is Different Compared to in Hong Kong, Here’s Why

juliana

Published

Why-Is-Cantonese-Spoken-In-Malaysia-Different-From-Hong-Kong-Cantonese-Yet-Not-Wrong-World-Of-Buzz-4

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

Ever wondered why Cantonese spoken in Malaysia is completely different from the way people from Hong Kong converse with the same dialect?

Well, we found out for you! Here are three reasons why Cantonese sounds so different in Malaysia vs in Hong Kong.

 

1. Cantonese in Malaysia has its own local influence 

It’s mainly because the language conversed here has its own local Malaysian twist to it that gives it its own unique flair and is the language used by those of Cantonese descent.

For example, yum cha in Malaysia and Hong Kong means totally different things! In Malaysia, it means we are inviting our friends out to hang out over some drinks while in Hong Kong it usually means going for dim sum.

However, in Hong Kong, the language is constantly evolving due to their Hong Kong films, television programmes and music.

Why Is Cantonese Spoken In Malaysia Different From Hong Kong Cantonese Yet Not Wrong? - World Of Buzz 2

The purity level of Cantonese spoken in Malaysia depends mainly on three factors, such as:

  • Native Cantonese speaker or non-native Cantonese
  • Chinese-educated or Malay/English-educated
  • Education level in each language stream

 

2. Malaysian Chinese pronounce the vowels differently

Another reason as to why it sounds different is because Malaysian Chinese citizens tend to pronounce the Cantonese vowels differently, as reported by SCMP.

For example, the tricky rounded vowel “œ” in words like “heung” (“fragrant”) is pronounced as “hee-ong” by Malaysians instead.

Why Is Cantonese Spoken In Malaysia Different From Hong Kong Cantonese Yet Not Wrong? - World Of Buzz

The reason some words are pronounced that way is often due to the fact that Cantonese is not our first language and hence, our pronunciation has been influenced by other dialects such as Hokkien or Teochew, which are also widely spoken here as well.

Time to go back to basics, y’all…

Malaysians usually pronounce words with two vowels rather than one. For instance, liong instead of leung. The former is the older pronunciation that’s supposed to rhyme, which they do in Malaysian Cantonese but not in standard Cantonese.

 

3. Some words are borrowed from different dialects 

Another main difference is the vocabulary used as there are often a lot of borrowed words used in a single sentence too.

A crystal clear example of this is when Malaysians say “bai’ (“number of times”), a word which is borrowed from Hokkien and “soma” (“all”) from the Malay “semua”. In Hong Kong, they would say “ts’in” and “sor-yau” instead.

Sadly, many Hong Kong people would sneer at this kind of trait. 

But little do they know that, in ancient times, Southern China was the land of Baiyue (a hundred Yue) and there was an ethnic called the Yue who were ethnically and linguistically distinct to the Chinese in the Central Plains.

The first emperor of the Qin dynasty incorporated this region into the Chinese empire in the third century BC, when northerners began migrating. Eventually, this led to intermarriages between the Chinese and Yue, thus resulting in a commingling of their languages to form a nascent form of Cantonese.

Why Is Cantonese Spoken In Malaysia Different From Hong Kong Cantonese Yet Not Wrong? - World Of Buzz 1

For thousands of years, there were countless migrations that came from the north. As such, thanks to the linguistic cross-pollination of these migrations, we now have the Cantonese language that we are all familiar with and recognise today.

Looks like a whole lot of rojak happened right there!

Ladies and gentlemen, the next time a Hong Kong person laughs at your rojak Canto, just be proud of it because you know your sense of rojak-ness is awesome and has a history to it too!

 

Also read: This New Language Was Just Discovered in M’sia and Only 280 People Speak It

This Language Has Only 280 Speakers In Malaysia, Here's What You Need To Know About It? - World Of Buzz

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

Feat-Image-Ganu-Dun-3 Feat-Image-Ganu-Dun-3
News2 months ago

Did You Know: The Terengganu Exco For Women’s Affairs is a Man & No Female Ever Held The Position

Despite women making up the majority of registered voters in Malaysia with 10,622,151 or 50.3% in the 15th General Election...

Collage-18-52 Collage-18-52
News2 months ago

SG Driver Smashes M’sian Driver’s Rear Window With Golf Club on Expressway, PDRM Investigates

Driving is sometimes about patience, especially when you encounter a situation that grinds your gears but there is never a...

Poop-On-Everest Poop-On-Everest
News2 months ago

Mount Everest Climbers Will Now Need to Buy Poo Bags & Bring Their Faeces Back When Descending

Scaling mountains means that an individual has limited things that they can bring and will be in nature for the...

Fireworks-Cannot-After-Midnight-1 Fireworks-Cannot-After-Midnight-1
News2 months ago

PDRM: Public Advised Not to Play With Fireworks After 12am or Risk Facing Action

As with all festivities, firecrackers are a hot item, and many love to play with them, especially at night. PDRM...

Collage-3-155 Collage-3-155
News2 months ago

KTMB Introduces Open Payment System at 80 Stations via Apple Pay, Debit Cards & More!

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Komuter is gearing up to introduce support for the open payment system across 80 stations...

My-Post-1-2024-02-09T151501-148 My-Post-1-2024-02-09T151501-148
News2 months ago

This M’sian-Owned London Megastructure Has Been Named Among World’s Best Cultural Spots!

National Geographic recently released its newly expanded Best of the World 2024 guide that shares superlative experiences, hotels, restaurants, and...

Collage-1594 Collage-1594
News2 months ago

Cheras Man Bags Nearly RM11 Million Jackpot for Magnum 4D With Lucky Numbers 7474 & 3964

You’ll never know what luck awaits you and if it’s yours, it’ll be yours no matter where you go. A...

My-Post-1-2024-02-09T124559-609 My-Post-1-2024-02-09T124559-609
News2 months ago

Pet Dog in Penang Dies After an Alleged Drunk Person Slashed it Because it Apparently Bit Them

Disclaimer: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised. Being a dog owner can be a tricky situation. You have to train...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY