The language of Wing Tsun, emanating from the Shaolin Temple in South China, is Cantonese. From names of movements to fighting principles the Cantonese language is an integral part of Wing Tsun and, as such, cannot be separated from the art.
While Chinese written characters having been generally standardised throughout China, the same is not true of the spoken language. Numerous dialects exist, with each distinct and unintelligible to the other. Mandarin is the official and most widely spoken language in China, with approximately 90% of the population speaking it. By contrast, although a minority language in China, the majority of Chinese migrants abroad are originally from Fujian (also known as Fukien) and Guangdong provinces where the native language is Cantonese.
Therefore, translations of Chinese written characters by different dialects can lead to some confusion. This is particularly the case in the Martial Arts, where the language of the art depends on the location of its origin. For example, in Mandarin the Chinese characters for Wing Tsun Kuen are pronounced ‘Yong Chun Chuen’ although there is in fact a different martial art by this name. Shaolin is the popular Mandarin name, whilst ‘Siu Lam’ is the Cantonese word for the temple.
In all our schools the classes are taught in English and students are by no means expected to speak Cantonese. However, basic Wing Tsun names and numbers will need to be understood and learnt. While this may sound daunting, it takes place informally in the class and students rarely have problems in doing so. For those who do find it difficult, teachers and assistants are always more than happy to assist. Far from being a ‘burden’ to the students, having a basic understanding plays a significant part in development as it gives a better understanding of the teachings, techniques and the philosophy of the art.
The language of Wing Tsun, emanating from the Shaolin Temple in South China, is Cantonese. From names of movements to fighting principles the Cantonese language is an integral part of Wing Tsun and, as such, cannot be separated from the art.
While Chinese written characters having been generally standardised throughout China, the same is not true of the spoken language. Numerous dialects exist, with each distinct and unintelligible to the other. Mandarin is the official and most widely spoken language in China, with approximately 90% of the population speaking it. By contrast, although a minority language in China, the majority of Chinese migrants abroad are originally from Fujian (also known as Fukien) and Guangdong provinces where the native language is Cantonese.
Therefore, translations of Chinese written characters by different dialects can lead to some confusion. This is particularly the case in the Martial Arts, where the language of the art depends on the location of its origin. For example, in Mandarin the Chinese characters for Wing Tsun Kuen are pronounced ‘Yong Chun Chuen’ although there is in fact a different martial art by this name. Shaolin is the popular Mandarin name, whilst ‘Siu Lam’ is the Cantonese word for the temple.
In all our schools the classes are taught in English and students are by no means expected to speak Cantonese. However, basic Wing Tsun names and numbers will need to be understood and learnt. While this may sound daunting, it takes place informally in the class and students rarely have problems in doing so. For those who do find it difficult, teachers and assistants are always more than happy to assist. Far from being a ‘burden’ to the students, having a basic understanding plays a significant part in development as it gives a better understanding of the teachings, techniques and the philosophy of the art.