I heard that cantonese is easier to learn for english speakers then mandarin. Is this true?
Friday, July 16th, 2010 at
12:46 am
I have been told by someone who speaks mandarin that cantonese does not have tones like mandarin and thus is easier to learn for english speakers.
Tagged with: cantonese • english speakers • mandarin
Filed under: Learn to Speak Mandarin
I don’t know who told you that, but Cantonese definitely has tones. There are so many factors that go into learning Cantonese and Mandarin. Some people are born with this insane ability to learn languages and imitate the sounds perfectly, while some others need to work at it. I’m a native Mandarin speaker, and I don’t think Cantonese is any easier or harder. I think the only upside to learning Cantonese as a Mandarin native speaker is that you might hear similarities for some phrases and words. The only way I can see it being easier for an English speaker to learn Cantonese is that an English speaker does not have something hindering them from learning the pronunciation of the Cantonese dialect. Mandarin speakers have their native language interrupting them from correct Cantonese pronunciation. They don’t have as much of a "clean slate" as English speakers. This is just how I see it though. I hope this helps clarify things for you.
You’ve been lied to! Cantonese has 6 tones, Mandarin 4. So it’s even hard for Mandarin speakers!
Well its actually all opinions my friend.
And Cantonese DOES have tones. So yeah I don’t know who told you that but it isnt true =P
I think it is just the opposite. I know Cantonese is much harder for English speakers because of the tone.