EdUHK Hosts International Conference on Yue Dialects

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Themed “Globalisation”, the two-day 22nd International Conference on Yue Dialects began today (8 December) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), attracting around 100 participants.

Co-organised by EdUHK’s Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies (LML) and the Centre for Research on Linguistics and Language Studies (CRLLS), the two-day conference provides participants with a platform to share their latest research on Yue dialects.

Professor Lui Tai-lok, Vice President (Research and Development) of EdUHK, welcomed the opportunity to host the long tradition conference for the first time. He further added that “Cantonese plays a vital role for understanding the socio-culture of Hong Kong as well as the globe. Cantonese has a strong and close relationship with globalisation”. Also officiating at the opening ceremony was Professor Zhan Bohui, a renowned scholar in Chinese dialectology and Honorary Director of the Institute of Chinese Dialects of Ji’nan University.

The three keynote speakers introduced some interesting and important linguistic issues related to Yue dialects from different perspectives. Professor Marjorie Chan of Ohio State University studied Dr Sun Yat-sen’s pronunciation from the perspective of language contact on the basis of a speech of his that was recorded in 1924. Professor Ching May-bo, of City University of Hong Kong, considered the issues of history, geography, and economics in tracing the origin of the Xiguan accent. Professor Benjamin T’sou, of City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, re-examined the inter-relationship between Yue dialects and the neighbouring non-Sinitic languages through some four-syllable expressions.

The Conference also features three panels: Cantonese Literature and Culture, Digital Humanities, and Resources on Cantonese Language Teaching and Learning. Scholars specialising in these areas were invited to share their latest work.

In addition, an exhibition titled “The Time Tunnel of Cantonese” is being held at the Mong Man Wai Library of EdUHK. Continuing until early January 2017, the exhibition displays features of and changes in Cantonese over the past two centuries.