am a Hakka myself and my hometown is Yongding

[makapaaa]

Dec 22, 2009

Youth must clear dialect hurdle to learn Hakka culture

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I REFER to last Monday's report, 'Hakka culture worth passing down: PM', and agree with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on that.
I am a Hakka myself and my hometown is Yongding, China. My siblings and I visited the place and marvelled at the tulou (circular earthen buildings that can hold a few hundred people).
Unfortunately, I cannot speak Hakka as my father did not teach us the dialect. My mother tongue is Hokkien as my mother spoke to us in that dialect.
Now, as a retiree, I am keen to pick up Hakka but can find no place that offers such a course. The Nanyang Khek Community Guild told me it would inform me if there was such a course. I am still waiting for a reply.
I wonder how we can attract young people to study the Hakka culture and spirit when they do not even speak the dialect. How will they mingle with older Hakkas when there is a language barrier?
Ang Peck Hoon (Ms)
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[hairylee]

Hope she picked up the dialect but the their unscrupulous character.

 

[sinren67]

Dec 22, 2009

Youth must clear dialect hurdle to learn Hakka culture

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<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I REFER to last Monday's report, 'Hakka culture worth passing down: PM', and agree with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on that.
I am a Hakka myself and my hometown is Yongding, China. My siblings and I visited the place and marvelled at the tulou (circular earthen buildings that can hold a few hundred people).
Unfortunately, I cannot speak Hakka as my father did not teach us the dialect. My mother tongue is Hokkien as my mother spoke to us in that dialect.
Now, as a retiree, I am keen to pick up Hakka but can find no place that offers such a course. The Nanyang Khek Community Guild told me it would inform me if there was such a course. I am still waiting for a reply.
I wonder how we can attract young people to study the Hakka culture and spirit when they do not even speak the dialect. How will they mingle with older Hakkas when there is a language barrier?
Ang Peck Hoon (Ms)
<!-- story content : end -->

I am a Hokkien but i speak Hakka which is my mother tongue as my mum spoke to me in that dialect. I'm not keen to learn Hokkien becos i already picked up Hokkien during my school days and NS.

 

[Sideswipe]

I am a Hokkien but i speak Hakka which is my mother tongue as my mum spoke to me in that dialect. I'm not keen to learn Hokkien becos i already picked up Hokkien during my school days and NS.

u how old?

I believe long long ago school and NS cannot learn Hokkien anymore apart from the phrases.

Army has become mandarin speaking already, no more hokkien for the commanders and men.

Hokkien Peng long long ROD already.

 

[sinren67]

u how old?

I believe long long ago school and NS cannot learn Hokkien anymore apart from the phrases.

Army has become mandarin speaking already, no more hokkien for the commanders and men.

Hokkien Peng long long ROD already.

I spent my NS in the middle of 80s'.

Those days "knn.." was commonly used. So i guess now is "ta ma de".

 

[littlefish]

I am a Hokkien but i speak Hakka which is my mother tongue as my mum spoke to me in that dialect. I'm not keen to learn Hokkien becos i already picked up Hokkien during my school days and NS.

If you have already picked up Hokkien, why do you still need to learn it? I believe what you picked up were the swear words.

It is a shame that Hokkien was relegated to being used only by those who are not very educated but I can assure you that there is more to it than just the swear words.

 

[Ash007]

Next it'll be "Chow ni ma de chou bi!"

Other then listening to radio/tv programs with dialects in them, I don't think there would be any language schools in Singapore that teaches you Hakka,hokkien, Fuchow,teochews etc. I learned Hokkien in Australia, yes in an ang moh country, from Penang lang here. Started by listening to Hokkien songs and appreciating it. The best way to learn it is to surround yourself with people that can speak it fluently. I suppose you have to make friends with Hakka nin that uses the language on a daily basis. If you are younger and unmarried, maybe you can get a Hakka moi that speaks fluent hakka with her family. I learned a bit of Hakka with my ex that way. Don't be afraid to use the language even if you know its the wrong pronunciation, grammar etc . Ask any question you have in mind. Think I'll go for Fuchow next.

I spent my NS in the middle of 80s'.

Those days "knn.." was commonly used. So i guess now is "ta ma de".