wanting to learn cantonese

[mmouse]

Well as a non-speaker who has attempted to learn, I agree that it's a really difficult language. I have a tough time remembering words in alphabetized languages as it is, but having to remember which of 7-odd tones to use is just impossible. 4 tones in Mandarin is much more reasonable. There are also some vowels in Cantonese that don't have any real equivalent in English. Listing to adults or watching TV doesn't help much because they speak too fast. The only people I can understand are little kids.

However, if your wife/gf is a Cantonese native speaker, communicating solely in English would be like buying a sports car and never driving it over 50 kmh.

 

[Berlin]

The language in general is not any push overs , that's a given. I see what you are saying and that's not what I was trying to point out.

I understand that everyone has a different pace in picking up new languages, and as already mentioned, the only way to get good at it is to try and practice, and practice.

What amaze me are those comments that border on negativity. I have learned a couple more foriegn languages including Chinese, not 100% fluent mind you but competent enough , since my adult life and have seen fellow average Joe blows, like myself, trying to pick up new new linguistic skills. I must say I have never been met with discouragemnt from folks that speak the tongue, none. Oh yes, you'd get the giggles when you hit the wrong accent but no unfriendly feedbacks. AAMOF , from experience , most folks were quite willing to guide you back to the proper accents and words.

So that brings it back to my previous post.

And let me be at it again : if you seriously want to learn, for whatever reasons, just bloody do it and try hard. No practice, no gain.