Hi everyone,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1CissP5Eos&NR=1
I wasn't sure whether to post this under "Transcribing videoclips" (because of the connection with youtube clips) or under "Penang Hokkien" (because of the connection with Penang Hokkien). Decided on starting a new topic, because there's no real transcribing involved, and the other topic was getting very long already. I thought I (and other members) could post other youtube clips of interest here, if we came across them. (For example, I'd love to hear/see more clips of Quanzhou Hokkien.)
This one is a clip of people practicing their skills in carrying and throwing a "Chingay" flag. When I was young, there was an actual "Chingay Festival", where there would be a procession. There would be many groups taking part in the procession, each group managing one huge flag. Each group would consist of about 6 people, (in those days) usually young men (there is a girl in this clip). Each flag would be triangular, and the sloping edge would be jagged, just like one can see on the clip. One difference is that in the processions of my youth, each flag would be very brightly coloured - they could be one plain bright colour, or thin stripes of two or three bright colours, but however it looked, each flag would be very bright and colourful, and very different from the others. As the groups processed along, the group would toss the flag from one member of the group to another, or "juggle" the flag from one shoulder to another, from forehead to mouth, etc, etc, as shown on the clip. The entire route of the procession would be lined with on-lookers, and of course the groups would try to outdo one another, showing off their skills in "juggling" the flag. Rather like a parade of floats, but instead of floats one after another, there would be these flags. Accompanying each group would be the incredibly noisy (and exciting) racket of drums and gongs, in the usual Chinese fashion.
However, this clip isn't of an actual procession, but is rather of a single group, practicing (presumably for such a procession). The only other clip I could find was of a competition, where various groups performed (not in procession, but in a single area), and then were awarded points by judges.
My main reason for posting this clip is that (Penang) Hokkien is spoken continuously among the various members of the group (sadly, rather unclear, because of the wind). There is one borrowed English word they use quite regularly however: "control".
videoclips in general
Re: videoclips in general
Sorry, this is off-topic - well "off-Forum" even - because there's no Hokkien involved. However, I did look a bit harder, and found some other clips and some information relating to "Chingay".
Here are two clips relating to the competition I mentioned in the initial posting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ham6QsFiHzo&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyER3cb1n0I&NR=1
Most of the Chinese speak Mandarin in the second clip, but there is a very short bit where someone speaks Hokkien. I was very moved and happy to see a Malay and an Indian group participating in this.
This is some background information on the history of Chingay:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Penangs-Ching ... id=3003763
This one shows (only very briefly) the flag-bearer walking on his hands and legs, with the flag balanced on his stomach (from 1:02 to 1:06):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89tNe6_F ... re=related
This balancing of the flag on the stomach and walking on the hands and legs is mentioned in the article giving the historical background, and is also one of the things I saw when I was young (but had forgotten about until I read the article). Once I read the article, I was also reminded of another regular feature of the Chingay procession of my youth. Namely, there would be a man-and-woman couple, dressed in more "traditional Chinese dress" (though not "ancient" dress, more like "Manchu-style" - the man would be in a sort of "pyjama-trousers-and-jacket setup", with one of those hats with a small "pom-pom" on the top). They would sit in a trishaw which would move slowly along with the procession, between two groups of people carrying flags. The couple would always be very "quarrelsome" (it was part of the act), and the woman would try and beat the husband with a bamboo stick. The man might have defended himself with an umbrella, but my memory is very vague on that.
There are approximately 30 youtube clips labelled as "Singapore Chingay Parade 2009" but sadly, none of them have much to do with carrying or juggling flags - it seems to have turned into more just a general street parade in Singapore, with the emphasis on floats, and a much larger variety of "acts" done by people, but no flags.
PS. If anyone knows of the name for that "quarrelsome couple" act, I would be very grateful. I imagine it wasn't invented solely for the Chingay procession, but is part of some known act, like "Punch and Judy" in Europe.
Here are two clips relating to the competition I mentioned in the initial posting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ham6QsFiHzo&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyER3cb1n0I&NR=1
Most of the Chinese speak Mandarin in the second clip, but there is a very short bit where someone speaks Hokkien. I was very moved and happy to see a Malay and an Indian group participating in this.
This is some background information on the history of Chingay:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Penangs-Ching ... id=3003763
This one shows (only very briefly) the flag-bearer walking on his hands and legs, with the flag balanced on his stomach (from 1:02 to 1:06):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89tNe6_F ... re=related
This balancing of the flag on the stomach and walking on the hands and legs is mentioned in the article giving the historical background, and is also one of the things I saw when I was young (but had forgotten about until I read the article). Once I read the article, I was also reminded of another regular feature of the Chingay procession of my youth. Namely, there would be a man-and-woman couple, dressed in more "traditional Chinese dress" (though not "ancient" dress, more like "Manchu-style" - the man would be in a sort of "pyjama-trousers-and-jacket setup", with one of those hats with a small "pom-pom" on the top). They would sit in a trishaw which would move slowly along with the procession, between two groups of people carrying flags. The couple would always be very "quarrelsome" (it was part of the act), and the woman would try and beat the husband with a bamboo stick. The man might have defended himself with an umbrella, but my memory is very vague on that.
There are approximately 30 youtube clips labelled as "Singapore Chingay Parade 2009" but sadly, none of them have much to do with carrying or juggling flags - it seems to have turned into more just a general street parade in Singapore, with the emphasis on floats, and a much larger variety of "acts" done by people, but no flags.
PS. If anyone knows of the name for that "quarrelsome couple" act, I would be very grateful. I imagine it wasn't invented solely for the Chingay procession, but is part of some known act, like "Punch and Judy" in Europe.
Re: videoclips in general
Funny how one night sleeping over things can awaken stuff in one's subconscious. I remember now that she used to try and hit him with a broom.the woman would try and beat the husband with a bamboo stick
Re: videoclips in general
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfyxf51U ... re=related
Another funny one IMHO. BTW, I don't indiscriminately post all Hokkien-related clips on this Forum. Even though there aren't that many of them out there, quite a number of them aren't any good at all, and I don't bother to post them.
Another funny one IMHO. BTW, I don't indiscriminately post all Hokkien-related clips on this Forum. Even though there aren't that many of them out there, quite a number of them aren't any good at all, and I don't bother to post them.