Asking if someone speaks Cantonese?

[Cristy26]

My current goals are to learn specific phrases in Mandarin that I can use at work to help people.

Since I am still very new, I am not quite sure if the Chinese person that I am speaking to does not understand ME or if they do not understand Mandarin. If they do not speak Mandarin then the majority of people that I come in contact with speak Cantonese.

How do I say "Cantonese" in Cantonese? Is it "gwongdong wa?" gwong(2)dong(1)wa(2) or is that how it is said in Mandarin when referring to a Cantonese person?

I would simply like to say Cantonese? with a questioning look on my face to establish which dialect they speak so that I don't continue to speak mandarin and feel that I am messing up.

Thank you

[skylee]

Is it "gwongdong wa?" gwong(2)dong(1)wa(2)

Yes.

You can usually communicate with Chinese people in writing. Show them a card like this and let them point to the language they use -

你的语言是 -　　(Your language is -)

-　普通话/ 国语　(Putonghua/ National Language)

-　广东话　　　(Cantonese)

-　闽南话　　　(Minnanese)

etc

[Cristy26]

Thank you. At my job I wear a uniform (no pockets) and work with my hands while moving all over the place. I make little cards (even laminated them) and lose them everywhere. My cards have always been "cheat sheets" for me but that's a great idea to put that question on there to show people. Sure would save a lot of confusion.