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tones confusion

Printed From: FSI Language Courses
Category: Learning Languages
Forum Name: Cantonese
Forum Discription: Discussion about studying Cantonese using the FSI course.
URL: http://fsi-language-courses.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=697
Printed Date: 16 January 2009 at 2:38am


Topic: tones confusion
Posted By: lungimsam
Subject: tones confusion
Date Posted: 07 November 2008 at 5:27pm
Hello,
 
Has anyone noticed that the tones for words seem to vary among learning programs, as well as native speakers? Or maybe its just me??
 
I have said din4 si5 (television) for upwards of a year now, my cantonese wife never correcting me. But I just started FSI Vol.2 Lesson 16 and it is notated as din6 si6. That's one example, but I have encountered many.
 
Anyone had the same problem, and is their a reason this happens? Maybe it is just my lack of fluency and experience with the language?
 
Michael
 



Replies:
Posted By: xieza
Date Posted: 24 November 2008 at 12:38am
I don't think din4 si5 is right. I never heard it. I say din6 si6. Everybody called it din6 si6 - is din4 si5 a typo?

http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Canton2/

This site should be helpful for you.


Posted By: lungimsam
Date Posted: 24 November 2008 at 8:04pm
Thanks for the great info. I will check out the site.
 
Yes, I have clearly spoken words with incorrect tones, having learned it that way, but noone corrects me. Usually I see the correct tones later, and then change the way I say it.
 
Also, unless I am wrong, I hear cantonese people saying the same words differently amongst themselves. Maybe it is a regional difference, or my ears are just bad. Maybe there are rules about saying tones I haven't learned yet, like if you have three wiords with the 5th tone in a row, the last one changes or something. Mandarin had these rules. That may account for why they are different sometimes.



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