Re: hakka: Hakka Chinese FAQ

[sllee <sllee@asiawind.com>]

Fran,

1. On Cantonese intonation, there are definitely 9 tones, but not all
tones of the same sound have words. If that elementary Cantonese
text only covers 6 tones, it is wrong.

Here is one example for the sound "ngau" The number indicates the musical
tone in approximation.

-(ping) /(shang) u(qu)	\(ru)

-(6)	/(65)	u (4)	\ (6short)	upper tone
Europe	vomit	ferment	press/stuff

			\ (4short)	mid tone
			no word
			urine smell (ngat) 
			[closest word]

-(1)	/(24)	u (2)	\ (2short)	lower tone
cow	lotus	stuned	erect
	rhizome


2. Mao as a Hakka was indicated in a recently discovered genealogy book
(found in People's University library). To some, genealogy books are not
trustworthy, so is history.  Then there is nothing to discuss. I think
each piece of evidence is significant (not necessarily true) until proven
otherwise. I do think that there are falsified genealogy books. But to
deny all the contents is not scientific.  Genealogy books usually discard
unworthy names, but seldom would they include someone not authenticated as
a member of the clan. A Taiwan publisher printed a whole series of
genealogy books, each has a collection of different books from different
regions for the same clan name. That is an important resource for
research.  Many Hakkas don't know they are Hakka, especially during the
war era. Mao might have never known.  And he might not care orwant to talk
about it.

SL Lee