Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebration for, urm, Chinese descendents. It's like Christmas to the Westerners but it's celebrated over 15 days, 16 if to include the eve. It's all about relishing food.
The eve of CNY is a pivotal tradition whereby preferrably all family members are gathered together for a reunion dinner. In the olden days where my grandparents were still around, a big cook up with plenty of big pots of dishes were prepared. In the last few years, our family members are gathered in a hotel for reunion dinner. The homecooked and atmosphere are sorely missed but at least my family is still very much tightly woven.
Hope the Rabbit year brings joys and successes to all and sundry.
Keong Hee Huat Chye (Hokkien dialect for Gong Xi Fa Chai)!!
Showing posts with label hokkien. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hokkien. Show all posts
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Penang Hokkien Dialect
A friend found this information and I thought I should re-post them here. It pertains to the origin of Hokkien dialect. It's for the benefit of all of us "Tng Lang". So here they are:
It is an Ancient Imperial Language of China – 2,000 Years Ago How Did it Sound Like? (Mind you, it's no way similar to Mandarin) Has this Ancient Language Survived? Who Speaks it Today? You'll be Surprised. You have heard it. You, your parents, or grandparents may still be speaking this ancient, archaic language! Yes, it's HOKKIEN (Fujian/Minnan Hua) Hokkien is:
1. The surviving language of the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), China 's Golden Age of Culture. Note: The Hokkien we hear today may have "evolved" from its original form 2,000 years ago, but it still retains the main elements of the Tang Dynasty Language.
2. Hokkiens are the surviving descendants of the Tang Dynasty -- When the Tang Dynasty collapsed, the people of the Tang Dynasty fled South and sought refuge in the Hokkien ( Fujian ) province. Hence, Hokkien called themselves Tng-lang (Tang Ren or People of the Tang Dynasty) instead of Hua Lang (Hua Ren).
3. Hokkien has 8 tones instead of Mandarin's 4. Linguists claim that ancient languages tend to have more complex tones.
4. Hokkien retains the ancient Chinese pronunciation of "K-sounding" endings (for instance, Hak Seng (student), Tua Ok (university), Thak Chek (read a book/study) -- the "k" sounding ending is not found in Mandarin.
5. The collection of the famous "Three Hundred Tang Dynasty Poems" sound better when recited in Hokkien/Teochew if compared to Mandarin.
6. Consider this for a moment: Today, the Hokkien Nam Yim ochestral performance still has its roots in ancient Tang dynasty music. Here's the proof: The formation of today Nam Yim ensemble is typically seen in ancient Tang dynasty paintings of musicians.
More Astonishingly: Although not genetically-related, Hokkiens, Koreans and Japanese share many similar words (which are different from Mandarin). That's because Hokkien was the official language of the powerful Tang Dynasty whose influence and language spread to Japan and Korea (just like Latin – where many words were borrowed by the English, French, Italian, etc).
To all 49 Million Hokkien Speakers:
Be Proud of Your Ancient Hokkien Heritage & Language! Speak it Loud and Clear. Teach Your Future Generation this Imperial Language, Less it Fades Away. Be Proud Children of the Tang Emperors.
To all Mandarin-speaking friends out there - do not look down on your other Chinese friends who do not speak Mandarin – whom you guys fondly refer to as "Bananas". In fact, they are speaking a language which is much more ancient & linguistically complicated than Mandarin.
Keep in mind that Mandarin is just:
1. A Northern Chinese dialect (heavily influenced by non Han Chinese) that was elevated to the status of National Language by Sun Yat Sen for the sake of China 's national unity.
2. Mandarin was never spoken by your proud, imperial Tang Dynasty ancestors. It was probably spoken by the Northern (Non-Han) Jurchen, Mongols and Manchu minority. Start speaking the language of your ancestors today.
It's certainly illuminated me and I hope it does for you. I'm proud of it!
It is an Ancient Imperial Language of China – 2,000 Years Ago How Did it Sound Like? (Mind you, it's no way similar to Mandarin) Has this Ancient Language Survived? Who Speaks it Today? You'll be Surprised. You have heard it. You, your parents, or grandparents may still be speaking this ancient, archaic language! Yes, it's HOKKIEN (Fujian/Minnan Hua) Hokkien is:
1. The surviving language of the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), China 's Golden Age of Culture. Note: The Hokkien we hear today may have "evolved" from its original form 2,000 years ago, but it still retains the main elements of the Tang Dynasty Language.
2. Hokkiens are the surviving descendants of the Tang Dynasty -- When the Tang Dynasty collapsed, the people of the Tang Dynasty fled South and sought refuge in the Hokkien ( Fujian ) province. Hence, Hokkien called themselves Tng-lang (Tang Ren or People of the Tang Dynasty) instead of Hua Lang (Hua Ren).
3. Hokkien has 8 tones instead of Mandarin's 4. Linguists claim that ancient languages tend to have more complex tones.
4. Hokkien retains the ancient Chinese pronunciation of "K-sounding" endings (for instance, Hak Seng (student), Tua Ok (university), Thak Chek (read a book/study) -- the "k" sounding ending is not found in Mandarin.
5. The collection of the famous "Three Hundred Tang Dynasty Poems" sound better when recited in Hokkien/Teochew if compared to Mandarin.
6. Consider this for a moment: Today, the Hokkien Nam Yim ochestral performance still has its roots in ancient Tang dynasty music. Here's the proof: The formation of today Nam Yim ensemble is typically seen in ancient Tang dynasty paintings of musicians.
More Astonishingly: Although not genetically-related, Hokkiens, Koreans and Japanese share many similar words (which are different from Mandarin). That's because Hokkien was the official language of the powerful Tang Dynasty whose influence and language spread to Japan and Korea (just like Latin – where many words were borrowed by the English, French, Italian, etc).
| Hokkien | Korean | Japanese | |
| News | Sin Boon | Sin Mun | Shinbun |
| Govt | Cheng Hu | Chong Bu | |
| Room | Pang | Pang | |
| Car | Chhia | Ch'a | |
| Door | Mui/M'ng | Mun | |
| Ticket | Ph'io | P'yo | |
| Eternal/Forever | Eng Wan | Yong Won | |
| Book | Chaek | Ch'ae | |
| Flag | Ki | Ki | Ki |
| River | Kang | Gang/Kang | |
| Insurance | Poh Hiam | Poh Ham | |
| Caution | Sio Sim | Cho Sim | |
| Demon | Moh Kui | Ma Gui | |
| Attend/Join/Mix | Cham | Ch'am Sok | |
| Simple | Kan Tan | Gan Dan | |
| New world | Sin Seh Kai | Shin Sae Gae | |
| Nation/Country | Kok Ka | Kuk Kka | |
| Elder bro | Hya | Hyaeng | |
| Prepare | Choon Pi | Jun Bi | |
| Time | Si Kan | Si Kan | |
| Emotion | Kam Tong | Kam Jong | Kanjoo |
| Thanks/Gratitude | Kam Sia | Kam Sa | Kansha |
| Marriage | Keat Hoon | Kyol Hon | Kekkon |
| Exercise | Oon Tong | Un Dong | Undoo |
| University | Tua Ok | Tae Hak | Diagaku |
| Safety | Aun Chuan | An Jon | An Zen |
| Satisfaction | Mua Chiok | Man Jok | Manzoku |
| Lover | Ai Lang | Ae In | Aijin |
| Successful | Seng Kong | Song Kong | Seikoo |
| Suicide | Chhiu Sat | Cha Sal | Jisatsu |
| Grapes | Pu Do | P'o D'o | Budoo |
| Improve/Progress | Chin Por | Chin Bo | Shinpo |
To all 49 Million Hokkien Speakers:
Be Proud of Your Ancient Hokkien Heritage & Language! Speak it Loud and Clear. Teach Your Future Generation this Imperial Language, Less it Fades Away. Be Proud Children of the Tang Emperors.
To all Mandarin-speaking friends out there - do not look down on your other Chinese friends who do not speak Mandarin – whom you guys fondly refer to as "Bananas". In fact, they are speaking a language which is much more ancient & linguistically complicated than Mandarin.
Keep in mind that Mandarin is just:
1. A Northern Chinese dialect (heavily influenced by non Han Chinese) that was elevated to the status of National Language by Sun Yat Sen for the sake of China 's national unity.
2. Mandarin was never spoken by your proud, imperial Tang Dynasty ancestors. It was probably spoken by the Northern (Non-Han) Jurchen, Mongols and Manchu minority. Start speaking the language of your ancestors today.
It's certainly illuminated me and I hope it does for you. I'm proud of it!
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