Hi,
I speak Shanghainese and Mandarin Chinese. My situation also puts me in contact with a lot of Cantonese speakers as well. My question is which of these three main dialects do you think is the most aesthetically pleasing to the ear?
My personal opinion is that of the three, Cantonese seems to be the most cacophonous. Each Cantonese syllable seems to be against the previous syllable in sound, and often leads to this blur of groaning noises. For example the phrase, "I love you" in Cantonese is "Ngo Oi Ney", compared to Mandarin's Wo Ai Ni or Shanghainese's "u ei non."
Most people probably will argue against me that each dialect/language is beautiful in its own way. I disagree however, in that in terms of aesthetically pleasing or not, Cantonese certainly loses.
So, what about Shanghainese? Perhaps the most vague of the three dialects, it is often caricatured as a bargaining language: fast, businesslike and emotionless. What do you guys think? To me Shanghainese seems the smoothest of the three, for it is free of the nuissance of dealing with tones. Shanghainese is essentially a toneless language, it focuses more on emphasis/deemphasis of a syllable (similar to English or Japanese). This makes Shanghainese sound natural, not countering against human vocal limitations.
Mandarin is of course the most lyrical and "civilized" of the three. But, it's four-tonal system often creates an artifical, mechanical feeling. Additionally Mandarin seems to lack much energy and liveliness found in say Shanghainese or Cantonese.
To me Shanghainese seems to be the best balance. Please input your thoughts and perhaps introduce other dialects not mentioned.
Thanks.
Will
Which Chinese dialect is the most aesthetically pleasing to
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Lisa C
Re: Which Chinese dialect is the most aesthetically pleasing
I have noticed that most Mandarin speakers think any other dialect is harsh sounding. I think it's because Mandarin speakers are only used to 4 tones and their ears aren't used to the 8 tones in Cantonese. Cantonese is actually the most musical I think because it has so many tones. I haven't heard Shanghainese so I can't compare, but to me Mandarin runs together and is droning. (I did take 3 years of Mandarin so I can pick up some) The Beijing Mandarin with the -er endings is grating on my ears as it sounds as if they're spitting.
Many of the Sei Yap dialects have some very guttural tones that sound like they'r spitting too. The worst sounding language of all I think is Vietnamese.
Many of the Sei Yap dialects have some very guttural tones that sound like they'r spitting too. The worst sounding language of all I think is Vietnamese.
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WAnker
Re: Which Chinese dialect is the most aesthetically pleasing
i dont know... i generally dont like hearing americans speak most of all
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Thomas
Cantonese !
For me, as a Westerner, who knows only the sounds of Mandarin and Cantonese, but no Shanghai dialect, Cantonese sounds the most pleasant.
I like it when the sounds are spreaded out a little bit.
Many sentences end with a spreaded LA or A or MA,
which sounds pretty cool.
Mandarin has some strange sounds, which are
not pleasant to my ears, for example a lot
of " sh" sounds.
Thanks to HK movies, more and more people want to learn Cantonese nowadays.
I really enjoy it, when I am in HK and can listen
to the Cantonese sound.
But that is of course everbody´s own decision.
Some don´t like American English, I like the sound, but I don´t like British English.....
: Hi,
: I speak Shanghainese and Mandarin Chinese. My situation also puts me in contact with a lot of Cantonese speakers as well. My question is which of these three main dialects do you think is the most aesthetically pleasing to the ear?
: My personal opinion is that of the three, Cantonese seems to be the most cacophonous. Each Cantonese syllable seems to be against the previous syllable in sound, and often leads to this blur of groaning noises. For example the phrase, "I love you" in Cantonese is "Ngo Oi Ney", compared to Mandarin's Wo Ai Ni or Shanghainese's "u ei non."
: Most people probably will argue against me that each dialect/language is beautiful in its own way. I disagree however, in that in terms of aesthetically pleasing or not, Cantonese certainly loses.
: So, what about Shanghainese? Perhaps the most vague of the three dialects, it is often caricatured as a bargaining language: fast, businesslike and emotionless. What do you guys think? To me Shanghainese seems the smoothest of the three, for it is free of the nuissance of dealing with tones. Shanghainese is essentially a toneless language, it focuses more on emphasis/deemphasis of a syllable (similar to English or Japanese). This makes Shanghainese sound natural, not countering against human vocal limitations.
: Mandarin is of course the most lyrical and "civilized" of the three. But, it's four-tonal system often creates an artifical, mechanical feeling. Additionally Mandarin seems to lack much energy and liveliness found in say Shanghainese or Cantonese.
: To me Shanghainese seems to be the best balance. Please input your thoughts and perhaps introduce other dialects not mentioned.
: Thanks.
: Will
I like it when the sounds are spreaded out a little bit.
Many sentences end with a spreaded LA or A or MA,
which sounds pretty cool.
Mandarin has some strange sounds, which are
not pleasant to my ears, for example a lot
of " sh" sounds.
Thanks to HK movies, more and more people want to learn Cantonese nowadays.
I really enjoy it, when I am in HK and can listen
to the Cantonese sound.
But that is of course everbody´s own decision.
Some don´t like American English, I like the sound, but I don´t like British English.....
: Hi,
: I speak Shanghainese and Mandarin Chinese. My situation also puts me in contact with a lot of Cantonese speakers as well. My question is which of these three main dialects do you think is the most aesthetically pleasing to the ear?
: My personal opinion is that of the three, Cantonese seems to be the most cacophonous. Each Cantonese syllable seems to be against the previous syllable in sound, and often leads to this blur of groaning noises. For example the phrase, "I love you" in Cantonese is "Ngo Oi Ney", compared to Mandarin's Wo Ai Ni or Shanghainese's "u ei non."
: Most people probably will argue against me that each dialect/language is beautiful in its own way. I disagree however, in that in terms of aesthetically pleasing or not, Cantonese certainly loses.
: So, what about Shanghainese? Perhaps the most vague of the three dialects, it is often caricatured as a bargaining language: fast, businesslike and emotionless. What do you guys think? To me Shanghainese seems the smoothest of the three, for it is free of the nuissance of dealing with tones. Shanghainese is essentially a toneless language, it focuses more on emphasis/deemphasis of a syllable (similar to English or Japanese). This makes Shanghainese sound natural, not countering against human vocal limitations.
: Mandarin is of course the most lyrical and "civilized" of the three. But, it's four-tonal system often creates an artifical, mechanical feeling. Additionally Mandarin seems to lack much energy and liveliness found in say Shanghainese or Cantonese.
: To me Shanghainese seems to be the best balance. Please input your thoughts and perhaps introduce other dialects not mentioned.
: Thanks.
: Will
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Kobo-Daishi
Re: Which Chinese dialect is the most aesthetically pleasing
Dear Will,
Cantonese is more pleasing to my ears than Mandarin. I live in the United States and have heard speakers of Cantonese and Mandarin, but, have never heard a speaker of the Shanghai dialect.
How many tones do you have in your dialect and are there any resources on the net about the Shanghai dialect?
Of course, I prefer the Taishan dialect since that is my native dialect.
Kobo-Daishi, PLLA.
Cantonese is more pleasing to my ears than Mandarin. I live in the United States and have heard speakers of Cantonese and Mandarin, but, have never heard a speaker of the Shanghai dialect.
How many tones do you have in your dialect and are there any resources on the net about the Shanghai dialect?
Of course, I prefer the Taishan dialect since that is my native dialect.
Kobo-Daishi, PLLA.
My opinion only
I am a Cantonese.
Frankly, I love Cantonese but I don't like Cantonese WITH TOO MANY ma, la, ka, wor, jie, ar, me, ... to end every sentences.
When I was a little boy lonnnnggGGG time ago:P, mum used to remind me not to say too much those "redundant" words. One or two is/are ok. Prob. that is just a yardstick for my family only.
Besides, I like pure Guoyu but not Putonghua and I don't like Taiyu. I like the tempo of Japanese but not Korean.
Frankly, I love Cantonese but I don't like Cantonese WITH TOO MANY ma, la, ka, wor, jie, ar, me, ... to end every sentences.
When I was a little boy lonnnnggGGG time ago:P, mum used to remind me not to say too much those "redundant" words. One or two is/are ok. Prob. that is just a yardstick for my family only.
Besides, I like pure Guoyu but not Putonghua and I don't like Taiyu. I like the tempo of Japanese but not Korean.
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Mei
Re: Which Chinese dialect is the most aesthetically pleasing
i like listening to Cantonese the most. but then i am cantonese and has been used to cantonese my whole life. lately i've been watching a lot of taiwanese shows and i've gotten interested in Mandarin..it sounds smooth..i also like listening to taiyu..i think it's really funny!
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Sum Won
Re: Which Chinese dialect is the most aesthetically pleasing
Through listening to many languages, this is my evaluation:
Mandarin: Carries a tone of aristocracy. Sounds nice sometimes, but annoying at others.
Shanghai/wu: It sounds like it's halfway between Mandarin, and the Min dialects. Pretty wierd, but I don't really have a problem with it.
Min (southern and northern): Sounds like the people have a good time, and the language seems to be more of a "happy hour" type language, if I can say.
Cantonese and it's many variants: Very rowdy For more on this, you might like to read the following post... http://chinalanguage.com/forum/cantones ... /1031.html
Gan: "Sorry, never heard this dialect". No evaluation.
*If you'd like to reply to me through e-mail, you'd probably have to send it twice, because my mail server's pretty screwed up.*
Mandarin: Carries a tone of aristocracy. Sounds nice sometimes, but annoying at others.
Shanghai/wu: It sounds like it's halfway between Mandarin, and the Min dialects. Pretty wierd, but I don't really have a problem with it.
Min (southern and northern): Sounds like the people have a good time, and the language seems to be more of a "happy hour" type language, if I can say.
Cantonese and it's many variants: Very rowdy For more on this, you might like to read the following post... http://chinalanguage.com/forum/cantones ... /1031.html
Gan: "Sorry, never heard this dialect". No evaluation.
*If you'd like to reply to me through e-mail, you'd probably have to send it twice, because my mail server's pretty screwed up.*