hokkien - the ancient language?

i know it's been ages since i last post..

been back for 1 month now.. but for some unknown reason, i'm not my usual self.

i'm not blogging, i'm not downloading, i'm not reading, i watch less.. in fact i dont do what i used to enjoy doing anymore.. anyone care to tell me why am i like this?

anyway, i wanted to share something i stumble upon while reading one of the blogs i've been following for quite some time. all credit goes to daphne ling and whoever started this email. so here goes :

"Ancient Imperial Language of China - 2,000 Years Ago.

If you're a HOKKIEN Take Note !!

Ancient Imperial Language of China – 2,000 Years Ago

How Did it Sound Like? (Mind you, it's no way similar to Mandarin)

Has this Ancient Language Survived?

Who Speaks it Today?

You'll be Surprised. You have heard it. You, your parents, or grandparents may still be speaking this ancient, archaic language!

Yes, it's HOKKIEN (Fujian/Minnan Hua)

Hokkien is:

1. The surviving language of the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), China 's Golden Age of Culture.

Note: The Hokkien we hear today may have "evolved" from its original form 2,000 years ago, but it still retains the main elements of the Tang Dynasty Language.

2. Hokkiens are the surviving descendants of the Tang Dynasty -- When the Tang Dynasty collapsed, the people of the Tang Dynasty fled South and sought refuge in the Hokkien ( Fujian ) province. Hence, Hokkien called themselves Tng-lang (Tang Ren or People of the Tang Dynasty) instead of Hua Lang (Hua Ren).

3. Hokkien has 8 tones instead of Mandarin's 4. Linguists claim that ancient languages tend to have more complex tones.

4. Hokkien retains the ancient Chinese pronunciation of "K-sounding" endings (for in stance, Hak Seng (student), Tua Ok (university), Thak Chek (read a book/study) -- the "k" sounding ending is not found in Mandarin.

5. The collection of the famous "Three Hundred Tang Dynasty Poems" sound better when recited in Hokkien/Teochew if compared to Mandarin.

6. Consider this for a moment: Today, the Hokkien Nam Yim Ochestral performance still has its roots in ancient Tang dynasty music. Here's the proof: The formation of today Nam Yim ensemble is typically seen in ancient Tang dynasty paintings of musicians.

More Astonishingly:

Although not genetically-related, Hokkiens, Koreans and Japanese share many similar words (which are different from Mandarin).

That's because Hokkien was the official language of the powerful Tang Dynasty whose influence and language spread to Japan and Korea (just like Latin – where many words were borrowed by the English, French, Italian, etc). Here are just a few words in Hokkien, Korean and Japanese for your comparison (Daphne's Note: If something is missing, it's the Japanese word):

*Daphne's Note: Words are presented in this order of :-

Hokkien

Korean

Japanese

H: Sin Boon (news)

K: Sin Mun

J: Shinbun - newspaper

H: Cheng Hu (government)

K: Chong Bu

J:

Pang (room)

Pang

Chhia (car/vehicle)

Ch'a

Mui/M'ng (door)

Mun

P'hio (ticket)

P'yo

Eng Wan (eternal)

Yong Won

Chaek (book)

Ch'ae

Ki (flag)

Ki

Ki

Kang river)

Gang/kang

Poh Hiam (insurance)

Poh Ham

Sio Sim (caution)

Cho sim

Mo Kui (demon)

Ma gui

Cham (attend/join/mix)

Ch'am sok

Kantan (simple)

Gan Dan

Sin Sei Kai (new world)

Shin Sae Gae

Kok Ka (nation)

Kuk Kka

Hya (elder brother)

Hyaeng

Choon Pi (prepare)

Jun Bi

Si Kan (time)

Si Kan

Kam tong (emotion, feeling)

Kam Jong

Kanjoo

Kamsia (gratitude, thanks)

Kam Sa

Kansha

Keat Hoon (marriage)

Kyol Hon

Kekkon

Oon Tong (exercise)

Un Dong

Undoo

Tua Ok (university)

Tae Hak

Daigaku

Aun Chuan (safety)

An Jon

An Zen

Mua Chiok(satisfaction)

Man Jok

Manzoku

Ai Lang (lover)

Ae In

Aijin

Seng Kong (success)

Song Kong

Seikoo

Chhiu Sat (suicide)

Cha sal

Jisatsu

Pu Do (grapes)

P'o d'o

Budoo

Chin Por (progress)

Chin bo

Shinpo

To all 49 Million Hokkien Speakers:

Be Proud of Your Ancient Hokkien Heritage & Language! Speak it Loud and Clear. Teach Your Future Generation this Imperial Language, Less it Fades Away. Be Proud Children of the Tang Emperors.

To all Mandarin-speaking friends out there -- do not look down on your other Chinese friends who do not speak Mandarin – whom you guys fondly refer to as "Bananas". In fact, they are speaking a language which is much more ancient & linguistically complicated than Mandarin.

Keep in mind that Mandarin is just:

1. A Northern Chinese dialect (heavily influenced by non Han Chinese) that was elevated to the status of National Language by Sun Yat Sen for the sake of China’s national unity.

2. Mandarin was never spoken by your proud, imperial Tang Dynasty ancestors. It was probably spoken by the Northern (Non-Han) Jurchen, Mongols and Manchu minority. Start speaking the language of your ancestors today." 

so, what  do you guys think of that? just for the record, i can hardly understand hokkien. anyone care to teach me some? so much so for being chinese (with hokkien blood), i suck at chinese (including mandarin, but still acceptable),  there's so many room left for improvement .. but i need help..