ABSTRACT
The old language-dialect debate is of particular relevance to Cantonese, or Yue, given the ambiguous status it holds in places like Hong Kong. This leads to an inquiry into its distinctive features. They might be connected to its origin, which relates to its divergence from other Chinese varieties. Whereas the subclassification of Yue reflects the intra-group variation, the comparison between Cantonese and Mandarin reveals not only their differences in sounds and words, but also in the lesser-known aspects of grammar.
