Cantonese Language Guide  Cantonese





   During World War II the United States War Department produced guides like this to introduce soldiers to the language in the area where they were stationed. This particular guide book was used in the China-Burma-India Theater by soldiers in southeastern China. The guide was issued in 1943 and indicates that Cantonese was spoken by more than 30 million people in the provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi.

   This page features the cartoons that were used to help illustrate the use of the language and to "lighten up" an otherwise monotonous explanation. Although the subject matter was a very serious introductory lesson on the Cantonese language, the illustrations were meant to be light-hearted and are funny to view.






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide
The guide book was intended for use with companion phonograph records.






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide
Mouths used to speaking English sometimes had trouble forming Cantonese words!






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide
Timid soldier gets the word from his sergeant.






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide
According to the guide book, "Cantonese is a little like singing."






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide
An important subject covered in the guide book was numbers and counting.






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide






 Illustration from Cantonese Language Guide





Special thanks to Gary Goldblatt for providing the original booklet on which this page is based.

Copyright © 2005 Carl Warren Weidenburner. All rights reserved.


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