coming from an experimental dance background and being creative its
background and being creative its
background and being creative its spontaneity that really spurs my love
spontaneity that really spurs my love
spontaneity that really spurs my love for life and when ever moments become
for life and when ever moments become
for life and when ever moments become really kind of dry or dead or depressing
really kind of dry or dead or depressing
really kind of dry or dead or depressing I usually changed my voice so every time
I usually changed my voice so every time
I usually changed my voice so every time I might walk out of a door I might
I might walk out of a door I might
I might walk out of a door I might change my accent and it came from a love
change my accent and it came from a love
change my accent and it came from a love for exploring the world of sound I was
for exploring the world of sound I was
for exploring the world of sound I was born with only one ear that was hearing
born with only one ear that was hearing
born with only one ear that was hearing and that actually exploded me into the
and that actually exploded me into the
and that actually exploded me into the world of sound and to be able to take
world of sound and to be able to take
world of sound and to be able to take sounds apart in my new detail and that
sounds apart in my new detail and that
sounds apart in my new detail and that led me to explore languages Cantonese
led me to explore languages Cantonese
led me to explore languages Cantonese Cantonese it’s not hard at all it’s
Cantonese it’s not hard at all it’s
Cantonese it’s not hard at all it’s chanting easy it’s even in the name of
chanting easy it’s even in the name of
chanting easy it’s even in the name of the language itself that we can tone
the language itself that we can tone
the language itself that we can tone with ease
with ease
with ease it’s not called cannot Tony’s for a
it’s not called cannot Tony’s for a
it’s not called cannot Tony’s for a reason
it’s really unbelievable that I’m
it’s really unbelievable that I’m standing here today talking about
standing here today talking about
standing here today talking about Cantonese because if you talked to
Cantonese because if you talked to
Cantonese because if you talked to anyone who knew me before 2015 Chinese
anyone who knew me before 2015 Chinese
anyone who knew me before 2015 Chinese with the last language that I wanted to
with the last language that I wanted to
with the last language that I wanted to learn because I was too busy getting
learn because I was too busy getting
learn because I was too busy getting excited about the rest of the world I
was really lucky to have him brought up
was really lucky to have him brought up in international schools throughout my
in international schools throughout my
in international schools throughout my childhood and we were surrounded by
childhood and we were surrounded by
childhood and we were surrounded by people who were from different countries
people who were from different countries
people who were from different countries and since I was five I really enjoyed
and since I was five I really enjoyed
and since I was five I really enjoyed meeting friends from different countries
meeting friends from different countries
meeting friends from different countries so I learned phrases like know take a
so I learned phrases like know take a
so I learned phrases like know take a take a Mustang Gasol and no he Patti no
take a Mustang Gasol and no he Patti no
take a Mustang Gasol and no he Patti no moon or a in Korean which meant you’re
moon or a in Korean which meant you’re
moon or a in Korean which meant you’re very ugly and your teeth are very yellow
very ugly and your teeth are very yellow
very ugly and your teeth are very yellow which was very funny when we were seven
which was very funny when we were seven
which was very funny when we were seven years old I still remember the friend
years old I still remember the friend
years old I still remember the friend who taught me how to say aapke Nam keahi
who taught me how to say aapke Nam keahi
who taught me how to say aapke Nam keahi and skipping – when I moved to England
we frequented a Turkish restaurant
we frequented a Turkish restaurant almost every other day yeoksam lard
almost every other day yeoksam lard
almost every other day yeoksam lard NASA’s zoom eadamson and my first friend
NASA’s zoom eadamson and my first friend
NASA’s zoom eadamson and my first friend I met when I was interviewing at the
I met when I was interviewing at the
I met when I was interviewing at the Ruskin he was polish his name was
Ruskin he was polish his name was
Ruskin he was polish his name was caustic and he showed me a drawing I
caustic and he showed me a drawing I
caustic and he showed me a drawing I said what’s that mean and there was this
said what’s that mean and there was this
said what’s that mean and there was this letter L with the stroke across it
letter L with the stroke across it
letter L with the stroke across it he said that letter is L war
he said that letter is L war
he said that letter is L war Panama’s war mr. butter it was a little
Panama’s war mr. butter it was a little
Panama’s war mr. butter it was a little yellow cartoon character with big googly
yellow cartoon character with big googly
yellow cartoon character with big googly eyes and over the years we developed a
eyes and over the years we developed a
eyes and over the years we developed a strong friendship and I often went to
strong friendship and I often went to
strong friendship and I often went to Poland with him and he taught me more
Poland with him and he taught me more
Poland with him and he taught me more and more polish so one day we were at a
and more polish so one day we were at a
and more polish so one day we were at a club in Warsaw and he I initiated him to
club in Warsaw and he I initiated him to
club in Warsaw and he I initiated him to translate the song for me one more time
translate the song for me one more time
translate the song for me one more time by Daft Punk so it goes
by Daft Punk so it goes
by Daft Punk so it goes yes Jared’s Benjamin Shabab each attack
yes Jared’s Benjamin Shabab each attack
yes Jared’s Benjamin Shabab each attack Otaki Jimmy Tong Cheech and it was
Otaki Jimmy Tong Cheech and it was
Otaki Jimmy Tong Cheech and it was resonating with people on that level in
resonating with people on that level in
resonating with people on that level in their home language that was the
their home language that was the
their home language that was the equivalent of the meaning of life for me
equivalent of the meaning of life for me
equivalent of the meaning of life for me it’s an experience that can be more
it’s an experience that can be more
it’s an experience that can be more precious than a plane ticket to go to a
precious than a plane ticket to go to a
precious than a plane ticket to go to a new city because essentially you’re
new city because essentially you’re
new city because essentially you’re visiting a part of their heart and their
visiting a part of their heart and their
visiting a part of their heart and their home
and so Cantonese two years ago I found
and so Cantonese two years ago I found myself teaching Cantonese in Berkeley
myself teaching Cantonese in Berkeley
myself teaching Cantonese in Berkeley while I was studying dance therapy and
this friend was teaching Portuguese it
this friend was teaching Portuguese it suddenly dawned on me that one of the
suddenly dawned on me that one of the
suddenly dawned on me that one of the most important things about tonal
most important things about tonal
most important things about tonal languages is that if you use a different
languages is that if you use a different
languages is that if you use a different tone it’s another meaning so it was
tone it’s another meaning so it was
tone it’s another meaning so it was really important for me to show him
really important for me to show him
really important for me to show him exactly where the tones started and
exactly where the tones started and
exactly where the tones started and stopped
where i’ma go I don’t want my opinion
where i’ma go I don’t want my opinion Mayo puto no hana mahad opinion I
Mayo puto no hana mahad opinion I
Mayo puto no hana mahad opinion I learned how to speak Putin while without
learned how to speak Putin while without
learned how to speak Putin while without having to deal with any of the Chinese
having to deal with any of the Chinese
having to deal with any of the Chinese characters because there is this really
characters because there is this really
characters because there is this really great consistent system where you read
great consistent system where you read
great consistent system where you read the words you look at the symbols and
the words you look at the symbols and
the words you look at the symbols and you know exactly how to say it why
you know exactly how to say it why
you know exactly how to say it why wasn’t there an equivalent system for
wasn’t there an equivalent system for
wasn’t there an equivalent system for Cantonese without a lot of numbers and
Cantonese without a lot of numbers and
Cantonese without a lot of numbers and extraneous symbols above and below the
extraneous symbols above and below the
extraneous symbols above and below the letters and letters that imply a tonal
letters and letters that imply a tonal
letters and letters that imply a tonal change
change
change there are even tonal accents that try to
there are even tonal accents that try to
there are even tonal accents that try to differentiate between tones that are
differentiate between tones that are
differentiate between tones that are different I thought all of this is so
different I thought all of this is so
different I thought all of this is so absurd and yet on one hand you have
absurd and yet on one hand you have
absurd and yet on one hand you have people who don’t know how to say Hong
people who don’t know how to say Hong
people who don’t know how to say Hong Kong in the local language so I’m going
Kong in the local language so I’m going
Kong in the local language so I’m going to make sure all of you in here do
I’m going to show you by putting out
I’m going to show you by putting out your hand one hand is your tonal device
your hand one hand is your tonal device
your hand one hand is your tonal device you get a finger from the other hand
doremi faso in just five tones you can
doremi faso in just five tones you can say the entire cantonese and putin wah
say the entire cantonese and putin wah
say the entire cantonese and putin wah language I found that the nine tones
language I found that the nine tones
language I found that the nine tones actually fall within the five levels
while I was trying to notate exactly
while I was trying to notate exactly where the tones were for my friends the
where the tones were for my friends the
where the tones were for my friends the bass down I notated the scale all the
bass down I notated the scale all the
bass down I notated the scale all the way from doremi faso Lotito but actually
way from doremi faso Lotito but actually
way from doremi faso Lotito but actually the whole language only existed within
the whole language only existed within
the whole language only existed within the Remi Faso and at some point we
the Remi Faso and at some point we
the Remi Faso and at some point we needed to write tone symbols because it
needed to write tone symbols because it
needed to write tone symbols because it would be inconvenient to have to draw
would be inconvenient to have to draw
would be inconvenient to have to draw the tone chart out every time so out of
the tone chart out every time so out of
the tone chart out every time so out of curiosity I plotted the symbols out for
curiosity I plotted the symbols out for
curiosity I plotted the symbols out for puto ha no no no no
puto ha no no no no
puto ha no no no no and so both languages turned out to
and so both languages turned out to
and so both languages turned out to exist within doremi faso and at some
exist within doremi faso and at some
exist within doremi faso and at some point i looked at my hand and said well
point i looked at my hand and said well
point i looked at my hand and said well if it was always so much brain work to
if it was always so much brain work to
if it was always so much brain work to try and remember these tones it could be
try and remember these tones it could be
try and remember these tones it could be much easier if we remembered certain
much easier if we remembered certain
much easier if we remembered certain movement patterns with the sense of
movement patterns with the sense of
movement patterns with the sense of touch so let’s practice this together
hong kong the legendary fragrant Harbor
hong kong the legendary fragrant Harbor hung Gong Gong
hung Gong Gong
hung Gong Gong [Music]
now how about some words about where we
now how about some words about where we are today tune one
are today tune one
are today tune one Ling nan University how do you say that
Ling nan University how do you say that
Ling nan University how do you say that in Cantonese turn more perfect Lingnan
in Cantonese turn more perfect Lingnan
in Cantonese turn more perfect Lingnan University Lane by Hart Lane Die Linke
University Lane by Hart Lane Die Linke
University Lane by Hart Lane Die Linke Nam big school big school meaning
Nam big school big school meaning
Nam big school big school meaning University now you never know when you
University now you never know when you
University now you never know when you might need a cup of coffee
kept your phones out so please
kept your phones out so please mmm boy boy yeah boy you got it
please one cup of hot coffee
please one cup of hot coffee mmm Boyet bui
mmm Boyet bui
mmm Boyet bui Goffin mmm boy yeah boy
Goffin mmm boy yeah boy
Goffin mmm boy yeah boy ye yatha can you hear this song in the
ye yatha can you hear this song in the
ye yatha can you hear this song in the phrase and actually from now on if you
phrase and actually from now on if you
phrase and actually from now on if you listen to the musicality of people
listen to the musicality of people
listen to the musicality of people speaking even in english nanana nana
speaking even in english nanana nana
speaking even in english nanana nana there’s a certain song to it nananana
there’s a certain song to it nananana
there’s a certain song to it nananana nanana and saying cantonese without
nanana and saying cantonese without
nanana and saying cantonese without tones is the equivalent of singing songs
tones is the equivalent of singing songs
tones is the equivalent of singing songs without the melody mispronouncing
without the melody mispronouncing
without the melody mispronouncing Cantonese words is like saying Merry
Cantonese words is like saying Merry
Cantonese words is like saying Merry Christmas
Christmas
Christmas as Merry Christmas we don’t have the CH
as Merry Christmas we don’t have the CH
as Merry Christmas we don’t have the CH sound in Cantonese we still see chow
sound in Cantonese we still see chow
sound in Cantonese we still see chow mein on menus instead of tau mean which
mein on menus instead of tau mean which
mein on menus instead of tau mean which I would spell with TS so seeing
I would spell with TS so seeing
I would spell with TS so seeing Cantonese without the tones and the
Cantonese without the tones and the
Cantonese without the tones and the right pronunciation
right pronunciation
right pronunciation is a total killjoy without the true
is a total killjoy without the true
is a total killjoy without the true Cantonese spirit like singing we wish
Cantonese spirit like singing we wish
Cantonese spirit like singing we wish you a Merry Christmas we wish you a
you a Merry Christmas we wish you a
you a Merry Christmas we wish you a Merry Christmas we wish you Merry
Merry Christmas we wish you Merry
Merry Christmas we wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Christmas and a Happy New Year
Christmas and a Happy New Year was there any Christmas spirit in that
I’m done remember the language is not
I’m done remember the language is not called cannot tone easy or cannot Tony’s
called cannot tone easy or cannot Tony’s
called cannot tone easy or cannot Tony’s it’s can Tony’s tonal languages are
it’s can Tony’s tonal languages are
it’s can Tony’s tonal languages are amongst the world’s most difficult
amongst the world’s most difficult
amongst the world’s most difficult languages to learn as quoted by the
languages to learn as quoted by the
languages to learn as quoted by the Foreign Service Foreign Service
Foreign Service Foreign Service
Foreign Service Foreign Service Institute for diplomat training as the
Institute for diplomat training as the
Institute for diplomat training as the languages requiring the most amount of
languages requiring the most amount of
languages requiring the most amount of hours to learn with the chance and easy
hours to learn with the chance and easy
hours to learn with the chance and easy method that might change because now
method that might change because now
method that might change because now Cantonese Putin hua Thai and Vietnamese
Cantonese Putin hua Thai and Vietnamese
Cantonese Putin hua Thai and Vietnamese can be contained on your hand II earth
can be contained on your hand II earth
can be contained on your hand II earth sounds Leo Qi ba Jiu Tai Ning song Sam
sounds Leo Qi ba Jiu Tai Ning song Sam
sounds Leo Qi ba Jiu Tai Ning song Sam see ha ha check that GAO’s Vietnamese
see ha ha check that GAO’s Vietnamese
see ha ha check that GAO’s Vietnamese move Kaiba Nam bye
move Kaiba Nam bye
move Kaiba Nam bye I forgot the phrase oh no Dom Jean boy 1
I forgot the phrase oh no Dom Jean boy 1
I forgot the phrase oh no Dom Jean boy 1 to 10 on your hand think about it
to 10 on your hand think about it
to 10 on your hand think about it you
you
you [Applause]
”
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