Talking Cantonese Dictionary ?

[LA Guy]

Hi everyone,

So, I'm trying to learn cantonese and would like to enter the jyutping ( romanization ) and have the Chinese Text and correct audio pronunciation.

The audio / talking part is very important to me.

I feel that this audio will allow me to more independently listen to Cantonese based on phrases.

Anyone, know of a good one for the windows OS?

I don't have an iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphone ( yet ) but if that's my only choice I may have to consider it.

I believe the Pleco software for iPhone is made for Mandarin but a Cantonese version might be coming out next year in 2011.

This Pleco software looks really good for Mandarin right now.

Anyone a good smartphone Cantonese dictionary (in Chinese ) ?

I don't read characters yet so I'm just an advanced beginner / low intermediate speaker.

Thanks, Richard

[Young Liang]

I've tried to look for the type of dictionary you mentioned.However,it seems that no one has developed that kind of Cantonese dictionary.In fact,there is little learning material for Cantonese.During my searching for the dictionary,I found some Website which may help:

The home page of Linguistic Society of HK, http://www.lshk.org/

A website which can type in jyutping for characters and their pronunciations: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Canton2/

I am a Chinese, in China, and speak Cantonese with a local accent.I have no obstacle in communicating with residents in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.Maybe the relationship between my Cantonese and standard Cantonese is just like the relationship between American English and British English.I feel happy to help you.Good luck for your Cantonese learing!

[yellowpower]

Hi

if you're still learning Cantonese and want a 'talking dictionary', have you considered getting an electronic english/chinese audio dictionary from Asia (China, Taiwan, etc). Some models allow you hear the checked out words in mandarin, cantonese, japanese, and some deluxe models allow you to even cross reference the same vocabulary in european languages as well, all with audio functions. Input can be typed in or written with a touch pen. It depends on the make and model specifications. These english/chinese electronic dictionaries should be from Asia. Check with the manufacturer or head office and ask them for the specific features that you want.

Also, Cantonese is primarily a spoken language, written Cantonese uses the Mandarin script to a great degree but there are certain words in Cantonese for sound only.

Other alternative is to listen to radio podcasts in Cantonese, if available...but since you live in LA, sure that there are AM radio stations that broadcast in Cantonese.

Hope this helps...

[LA Guy]

@yellowpower

if you're still learning Cantonese and want a 'talking dictionary', have you considered getting an electronic english/chinese audio dictionary from Asia (China, Taiwan, etc). Some models allow you hear the checked out words in mandarin, cantonese, japanese, and some deluxe models allow you to even cross reference the same vocabulary in european languages as well, all with audio functions. Input can be typed in or written with a touch pen. It depends on the make and model specifications. These english/chinese electronic dictionaries should be from Asia. Check with the manufacturer or head office and ask them for the specific features that you want.

OK, I will be in Guangzhou China and possibly Beijing in September 2011.

I will definitely check out the options. It would be good to know the Chinese Brand name of a good one for

reference and then I could "try" to do some research on baidu.com in Chinese ( translated to English by google translate page ).

Also, Cantonese is primarily a spoken language, written Cantonese uses the Mandarin script to a great degree but there are certain words in Cantonese for sound only.

Other alternative is to listen to radio podcasts in Cantonese, if available...but since you live in LA, sure that there are AM radio stations that broadcast in Cantonese.

Ah yes, I do listen to the Cantonese radio station here in Los Angeles AM 1430.

I don't follow too much right now but my ear is getting better so I thinking that I could improve

by listening and creating the Jyutping or Yale romanization and use the dictionary to show me the Chinese audio

and Chinese writing.

And now, I'm also thinking of adding Mandarin to my Cantonese learning since there is a business possibility of going to Beijing for a while.

My Mandarin is very very basic so my "ear" is very bad. I'm listening to the Pimsleur Mandarin audio and it's not bad.

Thanks to all, LA Guy

@Young Liang - Sorry for the late late response :mellow:

I've tried to look for the type of dictionary you mentioned.However,it seems that no one has developed that kind of Cantonese dictionary.In fact,there is little learning material for Cantonese.During my searching for the dictionary,I found some Website which may help:

The home page of Linguistic Society of HK, http://www.lshk.org/

A website which can type in jyutping for characters and their pronunciations: http://humanum.arts..../Lexis/Canton2/

When I try to browse the second website with the translation feature, the Chinese characters don't display

properly and I can't read it in FF, IE, Chrome. Can anyone else view this website ?

http://humanum.arts..../Lexis/Canton2/

I am a Chinese, in China, and speak Cantonese with a local accent.I have no obstacle in communicating with residents in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.Maybe the relationship between my Cantonese and standard Cantonese is just like the relationship between American English and British English.I feel happy to help you.Good luck for your Cantonese learing!

Yes, I understand the differences in accent, slang etc for different Cantonese cities etc.

My grandparents where originally from Taishan China which has a much different flavor of Cantonese.

Thanks, LA Guy

[yellowpower]

Hi

think there was some misunderstanding about my post of the electronic 'talking' dictionaries...there is no specific dictionary for Cantonese yet (I could be wrong, let's hope someone gets creative to write a learning program for it). Anyways, it's basically an english to mandarin electronic dictionaries and vice versa. Some models will allow you write the text on screen or input by pinyin or in english, basically it can read the words/example sentences or explanations out in English or Mandarin, but some models allow you listen to the words or text in cantonese or other languages by a separate function.

Again, depends on the make and specifications of the electronic dictionary, you will need to check or ask about the model features. Ask for a demo.

Basically, these electronic dictionaries are for so called ESL learners, BUT they come with some many other language learning dictionaries as well, etc. If I can't find a word in Mandarin, I sometimes input via English and viola, the possibilites in Mandarin pop out with explanations. And if I want to listen to it, I just hit the audio input key. Many have multiple asian languages/some european languages on them which are bonuses.

Think that some newer models come with learning Mandarin programs loaded into the dictionary or can be downloaded into your model. Again, check with the sales rep or head office.

For Cantonese, it's tricky because it's really a spoken and not a written language...many times, for Cantonese they use numerous classical terms (no longer in use in modern mandarin)for the sound, or just combine words. So technically you can't write the cantonese onto your electronic dictionary screen and hit the audio function for Cantonese to be read aloud.

There are differences btw the Cantonese and Mandarin but many words are written exactly the same in both languages but just read differently. So in these instances, you get to hear it.

These dictionaries not everyone's cup of tea. But it's great to have applied technology in a constructive way to help one learn languages. And dictionaries no longer boring. I'm a convert.

Have fun...

[Young Liang]

@ LA Guy

Never mind for your late response.

When I try to browse the second website with the translation feature, the Chinese characters don't display

properly and I can't read it in FF, IE, Chrome. Can anyone else view this website ?

http://humanum.arts..../Lexis/Canton2/

I think that if you change the coding system of the browser to UNICODE it may help.

[Lost in Mong Kok]

If you're using Android check out this little app:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nesnet.android.cantonese&feature=order_history

It accesses http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-can/ for its sound files.

There is also this website: http://cpls.proj.hkedcity.net/cpls/categoryDtl.jsp?cat=01

The official Lexicon here in Hong Kong has sound files for entries: http://www.edbchinese.hk/lexlist_en/

Translating a written sentence to speech you can use this: http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php

On top of this, if you want, or are currently using, a desktop dictionary program you may be able to use the sound files which are currently being uploaded and shared here: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,110929

They work with GoldenDict which looks up characters on mouse over.

[Akarui]

Check http://writecantonese8.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/cantonese-dictionary-with-over-4000-audio/

You will also find plenty other useful resources on the blog