Dialects with a twist

Language as identity

While many dialects are gradually disappearing, Cantonese remains vibrant and widely used.

Yuan Xiaoting, from Shenzhen in Guangdong province, is a renowned language vlogger and educator who has been actively contributing to its preservation.

Yuan graduated with a degree in Spanish, won national English speaking competition awards, and worked as a translator in Latin America. Now, her focus has shifted to her native dialect — teaching Cantonese online.

According to Yuan, efforts to promote Cantonese have made steady progress in recent years.

"A few years ago, primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou and Shenzhen began incorporating Cantonese into their curricula. The Guangdong Provincial Language and Writing Committee has also taken major steps to preserve Cantonese materials," she explained. "We also owe a lot to Hong Kong's entertainment industry — its movies, TV dramas, music, and bands have helped transmit Cantonese across generations."

Three years ago, Yuan casually uploaded a video of herself singing a Cantonese adaptation of a popular song. To her surprise, she gained two million followers overnight. This experience made her realize the widespread interest in Cantonese.

"It felt like I had suddenly discovered my purpose, and I knew I could do more to promote the language," she recalled.

Yuan began creating a series of short videos to showcase the beauty of Cantonese.

She recited classical Chinese poetry in Cantonese, noting, "Sometimes it rhymes better than in Mandarin."

She also made videos correcting common pronunciation mistakes and exploring the cultural quirks of the region — such as why people in Guangdong avoid phone numbers with 167, or why Lululemon isn't a popular brand there.

Beyond short videos, Yuan developed a comprehensive course titled "Learn Cantonese from Scratch in 40 Days". Starting with basic grammar structures and the nuances of tones and pitches, the course gradually introduces practical exercises for everyday situations.

She even incorporates AI tools into her teaching, encouraging students to practice conversations with a virtual Cantonese-speaking partner on Doubao, a Chinese AI app.

The course currently has more than 30,000 students around the world.

In 2024, Yuan launched an international version of the course, taught entirely in English. She tailored the content to suit the thinking patterns and grammatical habits of non-native speakers, drawing on methods commonly used in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

The deeper Yuan delves into Cantonese, the more she appreciates the sense of familiarity, belonging, and pride it brings.

"Language is closely tied to our identity. When you speak Cantonese, you can almost smell the aroma of rice noodle rolls and sampan congee," she said.

"After exploring Spanish and English, I've finally found my roots in Cantonese. Being a vlogger in my native language and promoting our dialect and culture feels like a unique mission — it truly means a lot to me," she added.