Chatty Cantonese | 粵語白白講

Guest Episode: Zoe Lam (粵語)

This episode features an interview with Dr. Zoe Wai-Man Lam, a lecturer in Cantonese at the University of British Columbia and the main instructor and curriculum advisor for the Cantonese Saturday School at the Mon Keang School in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. Dr. Lam has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia as well as both a masters and bachelors from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Our conversation focuses on Zoe’s experiences with teaching Cantonese within the Vancouver community and how language learning can help bring people together across cultures and generations. Resources and organizations mentioned in this episode: * Cantonese Saturday School by the Youth Collaborative for Chinatown [https://ycc-yvr.com/saturday-school] * Mong Keang School [https://www.instagram.com/monkeangyvr/] * Wong Benevolent Association of Canada [https://www.instagram.com/wongsyvr] * UBC Cantonese Language Program [https://cantonese.arts.ubc.ca/] * Rooted: Chinese Canadian Stories in Burnaby [https://www.instagram.com/p/C8M7vm3NSWL/] * Chinese Canadian Museum [https://www.chinesecanadianmuseum.ca/] * The Stephen Au Show [https://www.youtube.com/@TheStephenAuShow/videos] * The Hanmoji Handbook [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706892/the-hanmoji-handbook-by-jason-li-an-xiao-mina-and-jennifer-8-lee-illustrated-by-jason-li/] Episode transcript and vocabulary [https://www.chattycantonese.com/2025/04/42-guest-episode-zoe-lam.html]

Guest Episode: Jennifer Feeley, Part 3 (English)

This episode features the conclusion of our conversation with Jennifer Feeley. Where in previous episodes we discussed specific Hong Kong literature that Jennifer has translated, here she shares some advice for anyone interested in getting into literary translation. We are also thrilled to announce that since taping this episode, the American Literary Translators’ Association has announced two emerging translator mentorships for Hong Kong literature, including one with Jennifer. We have included a link to the details in the show notes and encourage listeners to apply. 今集節目係我哋同 Jennifer Feeley 對話嘅尾聲。喺上兩集我哋討論過 Jennifer 翻譯過嘅香港文學作品，今集佢為有興趣進入文學翻譯嘅朋友分享一啲建議。我哋亦好高興宣布，自從錄咗呢集之後，美國文學翻譯家協會就宣布咗兩個香港文學新興翻譯導師計劃，Jennifer 就係其中一位導師。我哋喺節目簡介入面加入咗詳情連結，並鼓勵各位聽眾申請。 Books mentioned in this episode: * Making Space [https://cup.columbia.edu/book/making-space/9789887564621], edited by Nicolette Wong * Cantonese Love Stories [https://www.penguin.com.au/books/cantonese-love-stories-9780143786955], by Dung Kai-cheung * Atlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City [https://cup.columbia.edu/book/atlas/9780231161008], by Dung Kai-cheung * 《小男人周記》 * 《穿Kenzo的女人》 * Pei Pei the Monkey King [https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/2017/05/climbing-lion-rock-an-interview-with-wawa-and-henry-wei-leung/], by Wa Wa, translated by Henry Wei Leuung * Owlish [https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/owlish], by Dorothy Tse, translated by Natasha Bruce Translation resources: * ALTA Emerging Translators Mentorship Program (with two mentorships for Hong Kong literature) [https://literarytranslators.wordpress.com/2024/09/03/2025-alta-emerging-translator-mentorship-program-open-for-applications/] Episode transcript [https://www.chattycantonese.com/2024/09/41-guest-episode-jennifer-feeley-part-3.html]

Guest Episode: Jennifer Feeley, Part 2 (English)

This episode features the second portion of our conversation with the award-winning literary translator Jennifer Feeley. Where last time we learned about her journey to Cantonese and her work translating the poetry and prose of the Hong Kong author Xi Xi, this time we hear about her recent translation of the psychological thriller Tongueless, by Lau Yee-Wa. Set in a Hong Kong secondary school, it zeroes in on the pressure-cooker environment faced by contract teachers as they navigate the shifting linguistic landscape between Cantonese and Mandarin. Make sure to tune in next time for the third and final installment of our conversation where Jennifer shares tips for getting into literary translation. 今集係我哋同得獎文學翻譯家費正華 Jennifer Feeley 對話嘅第二部分。上次我哋了解咗佢同粵語嘅淵源同埋翻譯香港作家西西嘅詩歌同散文作品，今次我哋會聽佢最近翻譯劉綺華嘅驚悚小說《失語》Tongueless 。小說以香港一間中學為背景，講述合約教師喺廣東話同普通話之間變化緊嘅語言環境之下面對嘅無形壓力工作環境。下次記得收聽埋我哋對話第三部分最後一集，Jennifer 會分享有關文學翻譯嘅竅門。 Lean more about Tongueless  [https://www.feministpress.org/books-n-z/tongueless] Episode transcript [https://www.chattycantonese.com/2024/08/40-guest-episode-jennifer-feeley-part-2.html]

Guest Episode: Jennifer Feeley, Part 1 (English)

In this episode we interview the award-winning literary translator Jennifer Feeley. Jennifer has helped introduce English-language readers around the world to a variety of works of Hong Kong poetry and fiction. She has been particularly prolific this year—her translation of Lau Yee-Wa’s novel Tongueless came out in June, and her translation of Xi Xi’s Mourning a Breast just came out this month. Our conversation with Jennifer is split into three parts, with this portion focusing on how she came to learn Cantonese and the language politics of translating Xi Xi. The next episode focuses on her work on Tongueless, while the final episode digs into what it takes to become a literary translator. Links to Jennifer's recent translations: Mourning a Breast [https://www.nyrb.com/products/mourning-a-breast] Tongueless  [https://www.feministpress.org/books-n-z/tongueless]

Learning Tip: Measure Words/量詞 (loeng6 ci4), Part 1 (粵/Eng)

Measure words (also referred to as "classifiers" in linguistics, or 量詞/loeng6 ci4) appear in multiple languages, but they have some special functions in Cantonese. Today we begin to discuss what to watch out for when studying or teaching them, as well as some of the ways that their usage differs between Cantonese and Mandarin.