Product Description

Basic Cantonese introduces the essentials of Cantonese grammar in a straightforward and systematic way. Each of the 28 units deals with a grammatical point and provides associated exercises, devised to perfect communication skills. Special attention is paid to topics which differ from English and European language structures. Features include: clear, accessible format; lively examples to illustrate each grammar point; full key to exercises; and glossary of grammatical terms.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #402467 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
... [the authors] illustrate with clear, unforced examples which carry the stamp of authenticity, and they are generally unafraid to depart from the conventions of Mandarin grammars or to use examples which might be seen by some to be poor grammar but which are indeed part of the genuine language as spoken. - Hugh D.R. Baker, SOAS

The authors are to be commended for taking the trouble to devise more challenging exercises ... for keen learners, in addition to the exercises that are directly relevant to the respective units. Other useful features of the book include a glossary of grammatical terms, and a subject index that enables readers to refer to specific grammatical elements with relative ease ... It does well to provide learners with a basic knowledge of Cantonese grammar without unnecessarily complicating the task. - Yew-Jin Fang, Asian Studies Review, September 2001

About the Author
Virginia Yip is Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Stephen Matthews is a Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Hong Kong.

Customer Reviews

Best I've seen, and I've seen a few!
Virginia Yip and Stephen Matthews have done it well. This is the clearest, most useful Cantonese language book yet. Each lesson builds on the previous one, as you would expect, but the inclusion of vocabulary that actually is useful in the world, and their clear method for discribing tonal pronunciations goes far beyond what has been available to date. Yip and Matthews draw on film, radio and t.v. for many of their examples, presenting this vital language as it is currently spoken. Using this book in conjuction with their "Essential Cantonese Grammar" will move your studies ahead vigorously and easily.

An excellent supplement or stand-alone text
I first studied Cantonese in 1974, using the Yale University text of Parker P.F. Huang. In 2002 I acquired Basic Cantonese by Yip & Matthews. It was an excellent review and also clarified certain points further. In addition, it had the benefits of more recent linguistic scholarship.

Another good feature was the answer key at the back of the book, which is immensely helpful when the learner has to rely on self-study.

Also, it is helpful when the learner needs to get an informal Cantonese tutor, like a spouse or other family member. The vast majority of Cantonese speakers have no acquaintance with the Yale University spelling system used in this and other books. So one of the first steps is to teach the spelling system to the tutor. And this book does an excellent job. I recommend it without reservation.

A good supplement to other Cantonese learning books
This is one of the few books I've seen that uses phonetics that are
accurate to the Cantonese language, as opposed to the "Romanized" Cantonese in other books. It is definitely a good supplement to other books that teach you words by topic area (i.e. food, travel, clothing, etc.).