Chatty Cantonese | 粵語白白講 – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode features the conclusion of our conversation with Jennifer Feeley. Where in previous episodes we discussed specific Hong Kong literature that Jennifer has translated, here she shares some advice for anyone interested in getting into literary translation. We are also thrilled to announce that since taping this episode, the American Literary Translators’ Association has announced two emerging translator mentorships for Hong Kong literature, including one with Jennifer. We have included a link to the details in the show notes and encourage listeners to apply.

今集節目係我哋同 Jennifer Feeley 對話嘅尾聲。喺上兩集我哋討論過 Jennifer 翻譯過嘅香港文學作品，今集佢為有興趣進入文學翻譯嘅朋友分享一啲建議。我哋亦好高興宣布，自從錄咗呢集之後，美國文學翻譯家協會就宣布咗兩個香港文學新興翻譯導師計劃，Jennifer 就係其中一位導師。我哋喺節目簡介入面加入咗詳情連結，並鼓勵各位聽眾申請。

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Making Space, edited by Nicolette Wong
• Cantonese Love Stories, by Dung Kai-cheung
• Atlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City, by Dung Kai-cheung
• 《小男人周記》
• 《穿Kenzo的女人》
• Pei Pei the Monkey King, by Wa Wa, translated by Henry Wei Leuung
• Owlish, by Dorothy Tse, translated by Natasha Bruce

Translation resources:

• ALTA Emerging Translators Mentorship Program (with two mentorships for Hong Kong literature)

Episode transcript

This episode features the second portion of our conversation with the award-winning literary translator Jennifer Feeley. Where last time we learned about her journey to Cantonese and her work translating the poetry and prose of the Hong Kong author Xi Xi, this time we hear about her recent translation of the psychological thriller Tongueless, by Lau Yee-Wa. Set in a Hong Kong secondary school, it zeroes in on the pressure-cooker environment faced by contract teachers as they navigate the shifting linguistic landscape between Cantonese and Mandarin. Make sure to tune in next time for the third and final installment of our conversation where Jennifer shares tips for getting into literary translation.

今集係我哋同得獎文學翻譯家費正華 Jennifer Feeley 對話嘅第二部分。上次我哋了解咗佢同粵語嘅淵源同埋翻譯香港作家西西嘅詩歌同散文作品，今次我哋會聽佢最近翻譯劉綺華嘅驚悚小說《失語》Tongueless 。小說以香港一間中學為背景，講述合約教師喺廣東話同普通話之間變化緊嘅語言環境之下面對嘅無形壓力工作環境。下次記得收聽埋我哋對話第三部分最後一集，Jennifer 會分享有關文學翻譯嘅竅門。

Lean more about Tongueless 

Episode transcript

Bernice Chan is a reporter whose career has stretched across the Pacific, reporting for both the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and CBC in Vancouver. She also hosted the award-winning podcast Eat Drink Asia. In the first part of our interview, we talk about the trajectory of her career and the influence Hong Kong had on how she learned Cantonese. Be sure to check back next episode for the conclusion of our conversation. 

陳志媺 Bernice Chan 係一名資深記者，佢嘅事業橫跨太平洋，任職於香港嘅《南華早報》同喺溫哥華嘅加拿大廣播公司。 她仲主持過屢獲殊榮嘅 Eat Drink Asia 播客節目。 喺訪問嘅第一部分，我哋講到佢嘅職業生涯以及香港對佢學習粵語嘅影響。 請記得收聽埋下一集我哋對話嘅後半部份。

How can this be happening?! In this episode, we dig into SFPs (sentence final particles) useful for expressing surprise, reacting to information that should have been known previously, or relaying sketchy things someone else said that you disagree with.

References:
Basic Sentence-final Particles in Hong Kong Cantonese, by Yuen-lam Tsang

Transcript and vocabulary

A little chat about time in the digital age... How do we stay focused when there are so many distractions out there? And what do you call a "bedside table" in Cantonese?

Transcript and vocabulary

This episode features the second half of our discussion with Dr. Gina Anne Tam, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University, and author of Dialect and Nationalism in China, 1860 – 1960 from Cambridge University Press. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between Mandarin and Cantonese in teaching and academia, as well as English’s immense power in the global linguistic landscape.

Works mentioned in this episode:
Silencing Shanghai, by Fang Xu
Gerald Roche (various articles)
Cantonese as Written Language, by Don Snow
Not Like a Native Speaker, by Rey Chow
The Fall of Language in the Age of English, by Minae Mizumura
Borderlands/La Frontera, by Gloria Anzaldúa
Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language, by James Griffiths
Sound, Meaning, Shape: The Phonologist Wei Jiangong (1901-1980) between Language Study and Language Planning, by Mariana Münning

Episode vocabulary and transcript

This episode features the first half of our discussion with Dr. Gina Anne Tam, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University, and author of Dialect and Nationalism in China, 1860-1960 from Cambridge University Press. In this episode we talk about the distinction between “dialect” and “language” and what it means for Cantonese. Check back next week for the conclusion of our discussion.

今集有我哋同三一大學歷史副教授，劍橋大學出版社發行《中國方言與民族主義 1860-1960》作者譚吉娜博士討論嘅第一部份。呢一集我哋討論方言同語言嘅區別同埋對粵語嘅意義。大家記得下個禮拜返嚟聽埋後半部份討論。

Episode vocabulary and transcript

More sentence final particles in this episode, this time centering around ones beginning with "z." They can be helpful for talking about quantity, degree, and justification--like when you're talking about that person who's "just" a friend...


Episode transcript and vocabulary

Pop quiz: How would you write "Give me that book" in Cantonese?「畀嗰本書我」or 「給我那本書」? The answer is... well, complicated.  But where might you read the former vs. latter? In this episode we chat about the different ways Cantonese is written, as well as the fancy term "diglossia."

Don's Snow's Cantonese as Written Language
Vocabulary and transcript

This episode features the second part of our conversation with Jade Wu, where we discuss her publishing process and some of the ways her students have taught her over the years.

Resources suggested at the end of the episode:
Language Reactor
Hong Kong Connection
Rhapsody in Lingo
CantoTalk
Resonate Literary Magazine


Episode vocabulary and transcript