The Chinese term for what we English speakers call "Mandarin" is
known to the native Chinese speakers as Pu Dong Hwa which means "The
Common Language" it is also known as the main and Bussiness language
of China. Cantonese is referred to as Guan Dong Hwa or GuanDong
language. Canton is located in the GuanDong Province of Southern China.
English is pronounced "Engwun" in Mandarin and "Yingmon in Cantonese.

You may find yourself asking a Chinese person if they can speak
English or the other way around. There seems to be no
simple "Yes" "No" answers to these questions as we do in English. It
changes depending on the question. The Postive or negative response to
the question uses the key words that is asked. In this case "CAN you
speak English? with a simple yes or no response it is structured
as "You Can or can't speak English?" the answer could be "Can..I can
speak English. Yes is understood. The word is "Hoy" for "can" in
Mandarin or "Sik" in Cantonese. I.E. "Ni hoy/Bu Hoy shwar
Engwun?" "Ni" meaning You, "Bu" with Hoy meaning "Can't", Hoy by
itself meaning "can" and ofcourse "Engwun" meaning English. If the
answer is yes I can speak English it would be "Hoy!" Meaning I can
then going into a more complete answer "Wa hoy Shwar Engwun! Wa
meaning "I or me" Hoy (Can) Shwar (Speak) Engwun (English). "No" would
be "Bu Hoy" then "Wa Bu Hoy Engwun" (I can't speak English!)

Cantonese would be Nay Sik/Mmmm Sik Gong Yingmon? "Nay" like "Ni"
means "You". "Mmmm" in front makes it the negative form, like "Bu".
The answer yes would be "Sik!" then "Naw Sik Gong Yingmon!" Naw (Wa or
I) Gong (Speak) Yingmon (English). If the answer is no, then it would
be "Mmm sik!" (Can't) then, "Naw Mmm sik gong Yingmon!" (I can't speak
English)

Cheers!

Mel