Great video Michael. My grandparents were from Toisan too. We learned Toisan and Cantonese too. We used to get a kick out of counting in Toisan. Nyit Ngee Thlom Thlee.
I grew up in San Francisco with parents who spoke Toisan which is a rural village dialect. My ancestral village is "Kay Leng lay." I can spell out phonetically my Toisan: "Naygah PoPo hung nay hai ho yeh!"
I love when I hear popo talking smack in Toisan! (when they mumble how they dont understand what we're talking about) Reminds me of the good 'ol days when my popo would say the same thing since we had no idea there was a difference between Cantonese and Toisan!
@@MichaelNicastro OMG Michael. I just realized I understand some of the Toisan your grandmother spoke because my own grandmother said the same phrases. For a video under 60 seconds, you've had quite a personal impact!
We need more PoPo cooking Hoisan favorite foods and you becoming fluent in Hoisan....You can go out and speak Hoisan in Chinatown which is so rare of a dialect now. Whatever happened to the girl PoPo set you up with? You so “Leng Doi” hope it worked out?
Hi Michael, your toisan dialect is perfect, eventhough you look American, but you can trick a lot of people who doesn't know you, I knew you know a few languages including Italian!!! So besides restaurant, you can work as an interpreter for clients who needed help in languages
Hahaha.. I am teaching my son Hoisan , he is three and pretty fluent now. Got a chanche to visit taishan few years back with my dad..we even went to see our grandpa's house there.. Regards from INDONeSiA
I woke up to this lovely message (Selamat Pagi). That's great that you are teaching your son and had a chance to visit. I have never been there but I know one day I will return. Wishing you and your family health, wealth, and happiness - Michael
Toishan was the most commonly spoken Chinese dialect in the US and Canada post World War II. In the late 1960’s there was a wave of Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong (to Canada) and Cantonese slowly became the preferred dialect. I don’t know whether the same happened in the US. My father spoke Taishan to his friends and acquaintances but at home we all spoke Cantonese because my mother spoke only Cantonese. There was a snob element in her refusal to try speaking Taishan because it was considered a regional (village) dialect, a deviation from the standard Cantonese spoken in the city of Canton (now officially Guangzhou). I understand Taishan and can speak it but as the older folks are dying out it is being spoken less often.
Hey Lily thanks for sharing a bit of your story. It's so interesting to hear about the Chinese immigration in Canada. Similar to what you said from what my Popo has told me. The first waves of Chinese to the USA were mainly from Toisan. They moved to California and NYC. My popo said everyone in the NYC Chinatown used to speak Toisan and if you did not speak Toisan they would be snoby lol (My Popo was from HK) but learned Toisan from everyone in the community and my grandfather. I think the same transition happened where Cantonese became the prime dialect in NYC Chinatown for a while. Now mandarin is more and more speaking in Chinatowns. There are probably more mandarin speakers in Canada now right?
@@MichaelNicastro Right. Since communist China opened its borders in the 1980’s there has been another wave of Chinese immigrants, this time from the mainland. Mandarin has been gradually taking over in the commercial sector. The store employees speak both Mandarin and Cantonese but sometimes only Mandarin. Toronto has several “Chinatowns,” but unlike the two older ones which are more concentrated, those in the suburbs are more scattered. I have been trying to learn Mandarin for several years just to understand what people are saying. I can understand more than I can speak, but I know enough to ask for, i.e. 2 lbs of minced pork at the meat counter. It has been fun exchanging experiences with another person from an immigrant family. I am glad to find your channel.
@@lilystonne4108 Very interesting yeah I think my family can relate to how you feel and similar dynamic happening here in NY at least. Manhattan Chinatown is still a place where Cantonese is spoken but not as much as it used too. There are a couple newer Chinatowns in Queens and Brooklyn which are more Mandarin speaking groups. I enjoy going there sometimes to try the foods and explore. I have never been to Canada yet unfortunately, but I heard you have a great rich asian communities with delicious foods. I can't wait to visit someday! Wish you and your family the best!
@@MichaelNicastro Yes, you should visit Canada. I think you would feel as much at home in the Chinatown districts of Toronto and Vancouver as in NYC. Since you have lived in Shanghai for a year, I am sure you will get along here in Mandarin just fine. I travelled to NYC six years ago and visited the Chinatown in Manhattan. I found that it had retained more of the old world charm than in Toronto. For example, we don’t have the quaint architectural structures like the archway that defines the start of Chinatown.
@@MichaelNicastro well, its soo mixed it probably is, my parents are from Hoisan or there abouts, and while growing up I watched a lot of Hong Kong movies
I love hearing your grandma speaking Hoisan...I miss it...please I want to hear more from your popo
Thank you, sending you blessings!
Great video Michael. My grandparents were from Toisan too. We learned Toisan and Cantonese too. We used to get a kick out of counting in Toisan. Nyit Ngee Thlom Thlee.
Haha that's so funny. We all have a similar story.
Keep up the good work with Toisan wah! So impressed with your Cantonese.
I am trying to learn and making up for lost time! Happy holidays
Keep it up and learn more to help preserve your family legacy Hoisan language! Your PoPo is a joker - understood everything she said in Hoisan!
haha the joker, Hope you are doing well Susie.
I grew up in San Francisco with parents who spoke Toisan which is a rural village dialect. My ancestral village is "Kay Leng lay." I can spell out phonetically my Toisan:
"Naygah PoPo hung nay hai ho yeh!"
Ooo wow Toisan people everywhere! It's amazing
Love to hear your family story Michael!
Thanks! Sending you and your family good vibes.
I love when I hear popo talking smack in Toisan! (when they mumble how they dont understand what we're talking about) Reminds me of the good 'ol days when my popo would say the same thing since we had no idea there was a difference between Cantonese and Toisan!
Haha reminds me of my mom and popo talking about me behind my back lol.
@@MichaelNicastro OMG Michael. I just realized I understand some of the Toisan your grandmother spoke because my own grandmother said the same phrases. For a video under 60 seconds, you've had quite a personal impact!
@@violetviolet888 so amazing that you made that connection:)
@@MichaelNicastro Michael, why does your grandmother never say 吃 ?
@@violetviolet888 LOL idk
We need more PoPo cooking Hoisan favorite foods and you becoming fluent in Hoisan....You can go out and speak Hoisan in Chinatown which is so rare of a dialect now. Whatever happened to the girl PoPo set you up with? You so “Leng Doi” hope it worked out?
Haha that's right I need to learn more. I have another leng lui now :).
Hi Michael, your toisan dialect is perfect, eventhough you look American, but you can trick a lot of people who doesn't know you, I knew you know a few languages including Italian!!! So besides restaurant, you can work as an interpreter for clients who needed help in languages
Haha thanks Jean. I know a bit but not fluent. Still practicing! Appreciate you
Hahaha.. I am teaching my son Hoisan , he is three and pretty fluent now. Got a chanche to visit taishan few years back with my dad..we even went to see our grandpa's house there..
Regards from INDONeSiA
I woke up to this lovely message (Selamat Pagi). That's great that you are teaching your son and had a chance to visit. I have never been there but I know one day I will return. Wishing you and your family health, wealth, and happiness - Michael
@@MichaelNicastro ah.. U know Bahasa too. Great! .. Same wishes to you and your family too..
@@davidgoon2399 Thank you!
I don't I just know some simple greetings :).
Aiya, mought 'm hiew! Words of encouragement.
You speak Hoisan well! Your feisty Po reminds me of mine. I’m happy you made this video
Thank you 🙏 wish you well!
Ciao Michael, nei ho ma?
We Hoisan Gnin built the most difficult section of the
TCC Railroad: thru the Sierra Nevada Mts.
Your story so touching, man...i love your story, keep it up man 👍❤️
Thanks for the encouragement! Sending you good energy
Im Hoisan and Italian too!! 🙏👍
Hey that's really cool! Shoutout to you!!!
Toishan was the most commonly spoken Chinese dialect in the US and Canada post World War II. In the late 1960’s there was a wave of Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong (to Canada) and Cantonese slowly became the preferred dialect. I don’t know whether the same happened in the US. My father spoke Taishan to his friends and acquaintances but at home we all spoke Cantonese because my mother spoke only Cantonese. There was a snob element in her refusal to try speaking Taishan because it was considered a regional (village) dialect, a deviation from the standard Cantonese spoken in the city of Canton (now officially Guangzhou). I understand Taishan and can speak it but as the older folks are dying out it is being spoken less often.
Hey Lily thanks for sharing a bit of your story. It's so interesting to hear about the Chinese immigration in Canada. Similar to what you said from what my Popo has told me. The first waves of Chinese to the USA were mainly from Toisan. They moved to California and NYC. My popo said everyone in the NYC Chinatown used to speak Toisan and if you did not speak Toisan they would be snoby lol (My Popo was from HK) but learned Toisan from everyone in the community and my grandfather. I think the same transition happened where Cantonese became the prime dialect in NYC Chinatown for a while. Now mandarin is more and more speaking in Chinatowns. There are probably more mandarin speakers in Canada now right?
@@MichaelNicastro Right. Since communist China opened its borders in the 1980’s there has been another wave of Chinese immigrants, this time from the mainland. Mandarin has been gradually taking over in the commercial sector. The store employees speak both Mandarin and Cantonese but sometimes only Mandarin. Toronto has several “Chinatowns,” but unlike the two older ones which are more concentrated, those in the suburbs are more scattered. I have been trying to learn Mandarin for several years just to understand what people are saying. I can understand more than I can speak, but I know enough to ask for, i.e. 2 lbs of minced pork at the meat counter. It has been fun exchanging experiences with another person from an immigrant family. I am glad to find your channel.
@@lilystonne4108 Very interesting yeah I think my family can relate to how you feel and similar dynamic happening here in NY at least. Manhattan Chinatown is still a place where Cantonese is spoken but not as much as it used too. There are a couple newer Chinatowns in Queens and Brooklyn which are more Mandarin speaking groups. I enjoy going there sometimes to try the foods and explore. I have never been to Canada yet unfortunately, but I heard you have a great rich asian communities with delicious foods. I can't wait to visit someday! Wish you and your family the best!
@@MichaelNicastro Yes, you should visit Canada. I think you would feel as much at home in the Chinatown districts of Toronto and Vancouver as in NYC. Since you have lived in Shanghai for a year, I am sure you will get along here in Mandarin just fine. I travelled to NYC six years ago and visited the Chinatown in Manhattan. I found that it had retained more of the old world charm than in Toronto. For example, we don’t have the quaint architectural structures like the archway that defines the start of Chinatown.
Love this! I speak Toisan too and similar to your popo.
Yes! My mom does too!
That's really good for your first attempt
I knew it! Hearing your popo i thought i heard a bit of hoisan!
I love it!
Trying lol
他說的台山話算不錯了，滿分100，我會給80分。
婆婆說台山話，讓我想到我奶奶 😭
Great effort!
Thank you!
I'm fluent in it. I speak canto and mandarin. too. I don't use it.
I can relate to this hahaha 🤣
Haha happy new year!
@@MichaelNicastro happy new year from SoCal!
@@Guadalupeloser happy new year from NY :)
Nee do mwat ahh? 😁
CHE :)
@@MichaelNicastro che-seen 😅
@@f1uzure haha Happy New year!
Hahahahaha
lol
😁😁😁😁
完全听不懂台山话🤣
我也是哈哈老师
hi
how are you my nameis Lung
iwant toknow are you fromtaishan ?
hi
how are you my names Lung
iwant to know your grand father is fromt aishan guandong china?
Michael,
Pls stop ur short videos & full length ones. I like to watch ur videos, but u do them short ones, I sometimes skip them.
Ok Mary thanks for the input
i speak cantosan, lolol or is it Hoisonese ?
You speak both?
@@MichaelNicastro well, its soo mixed it probably is, my parents are from Hoisan or there abouts, and while growing up I watched a lot of Hong Kong movies
@@BeastNZ Gotcha so you can code switch like a boss!
@@MichaelNicastro or be fresh, haha
@@BeastNZ I’m the same too. My grandparents speaks mixed too so I don’t know what is what anymore.