You might be able to use it to predict some things in the general case, but all languages have exceptions, readings evolve over time, etc.
Dr. Ho takes a very scholarly approach and is often is at odds with colloquial (descriptive) pronounciation.
As a simple example of pronunciation variance: [www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk] ...most people I know pronounce this as 間3 unless they're reading off a script and are being formal. So-called "lazy" n->l substitutions are the norm in speech these days. Eventually they will be documented as what the language is similar in fashion to how the sh-/s- initials merged into s-. Languages do this over time.
If you're going to look at books concerning pronunciation, 廣州話正音字典 is not perfect, but it's a very good *relatively recent* starting point and even has obscure characters many people have encountered once, if ever. (It's great if you're looking for potential names for children.)
If you go through the Cantodict forum, you'll see some message threads where, for example, 4 or 5 sources are consulted and they're all giving different pronunciations. Sometimes pronunciations are controversial, see [www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk] and the government agencies even give their recommendations.
-Tony
Dr. Ho takes a very scholarly approach and is often is at odds with colloquial (descriptive) pronounciation.
As a simple example of pronunciation variance: [www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk] ...most people I know pronounce this as 間3 unless they're reading off a script and are being formal. So-called "lazy" n->l substitutions are the norm in speech these days. Eventually they will be documented as what the language is similar in fashion to how the sh-/s- initials merged into s-. Languages do this over time.
If you're going to look at books concerning pronunciation, 廣州話正音字典 is not perfect, but it's a very good *relatively recent* starting point and even has obscure characters many people have encountered once, if ever. (It's great if you're looking for potential names for children.)
If you go through the Cantodict forum, you'll see some message threads where, for example, 4 or 5 sources are consulted and they're all giving different pronunciations. Sometimes pronunciations are controversial, see [www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk] and the government agencies even give their recommendations.
-Tony