OK. I need to calm down, but I thought that Taiwanese and Cantonese were two separate languages, or at least dialects, they aren't the SAME language, and then I was just talking with someone and they said Taiwanese=Cantonese, and I got all up in a fluster. I need someone to help me chill out quickly and promptly. Thank you all so much!
2007-07-29 21:31:42 · 8 answers · asked by Financaux 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Taiwanese is definitely a different language from Cantonese. I live in Taiwan and Taiwanese is a language of the Min language family. It is more or less identical to the language spoken in some parts of Fujien province in China, such as Xia Men. But Taiwanese has adopted lots of vocabulary from Japanese as well. Cantonese is the language of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong. It is on the Yue language family. The two languages are totally different and mutually unintelligable.
2007-07-29 21:51:08 · answer #1 · answered by Jean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work with a Taiwanese girl and can promise you the Taiwanese and Cantonese languages are mutually unintelligible. Educated Taiwanese and Hong Kongese (?) would normally communicate in Mandarin.
2007-07-30 07:14:18 · answer #2 · answered by JJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, you need to firstly understand that there are many Chinese dialects. The Chinese language stem is much like Latin - and its descendants. Each region (not just the mainland) has some different dialects. Chinese internationally is usually Cantonese or Mandarin, though dozens of other dialects such as Hakka and Chaozhou exist. They all share similar attributes including the basic Chinese character system and most words similar in the other dialects.
Now that you understand how Chinese has different dialects, each region may have different vocabulary of one dialect.
Shanghainese differs to Beijing dialect
Both differ from Cantonese
All three differ from Hakka and other dialects
Taiwanese is again different having influence from Japanese too.
Cantonese comes from the Yue/Yuht group of languages.
DID YOU KNOW: The word Yue/Yuht is where Viet Nam got its name from? and that 60% of all Vietnamese words come from Chinese?
2007-07-30 04:53:03 · answer #3 · answered by viet_forever_more 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most ppl would assume them both to belong under the general Chinese language, but two different dialects. it would be an overgeneralization to say that Taiwanese = Cantonese, because it simply isn't true.
2007-07-30 04:42:30 · answer #4 · answered by tonyd128 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they are not the same language but the dialect is same.
But taiwanese and cantonese are belong to the chinese language (overall).
No, sorry, the dialect isn't same, I would say they use a alike logogram, the chinese character.
2007-07-30 04:38:57 · answer #5 · answered by Dr.Death 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
whoever old u taiwanese was the same as cantonese is STUPID!!!
i speak cantonese and manderin and they are two diff dialects. taiwanese isnt even either. taiwanese is a diff dialect than cantonese for a FACT...
to say "I" in cantonese- Ngo
to say "I" in taiwanese- Wo
To say " i love u" in cantonese- Ngo oi nei
To say "i love u" in manderin/taiwanese- Wo ai ni
I cant b leev someone actually told u cantonese and taiwanese are the SAME....
2007-08-01 11:25:03 · answer #6 · answered by 恒健 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes you're right, taiwanese and cantonese are different. they don't even sound alike, and taiwanese is spoken in taiwan whereas cantonese is spoken in china
2007-07-30 15:45:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two are all chinese ,plz remember
2007-07-30 04:56:49 · answer #8 · answered by kingdom511 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋