Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Independency


People say that a language defines a society. Well, maybe that is true. Just look how French is used as a romantic language that we quickly associate the French people as people who are romantic. Or how we associate English as a language that is bound to help people in trading around the world. For those who have been reading my blog long enough, you would realise that I rarely write in Malay. It is not that I am not proud of my language, I am proud. It is just that I feel by writing in English, my writings can reach more audience around the world (though I know most of my readers are Malaysians). While I often write in English, it hurts me the most when people seem to be ignorant of the words that are available in Malay. For example, they think that when they introduce words that originate from English into Malay, their sentences or words would be more ‘globalized’, that they would be seen to be more complicated than other people when it is very obvious that there are other Malay words that are more suitable. For example, the word ‘apresiasi’, which comes from the word ‘appreciation’. There is already the word ‘penghargaan’, why can’t they just use that word?


Another example is the word ‘solusi’ which comes from the word ‘solution’, when it is already obvious that we already have the word ‘penyelesaian’ in Malay.


The latest word that cringe me the most is when it is used for this year’s Independence Day’s theme. This year’s theme is ‘ 1Malaysia Menjana Transformasi’. I just want to know who is the brilliant chap who coined this year’s theme. Was he inspired by the Transformers the movie? Why can’t they use the word ‘perubahan’ instead? I don’t mind if they want to use English, but make sure that the whole theme is in English such as 1Malaysia Generating Transformation rather than using some parts and pieces in English and then mix it up with Malay.


If a language defines a society, so what does this define us? A bunch of confused Malaysians? I hope not. I guess some part of us Malaysians is never really independent yet. Happy 53rdIndependence Day folks.



p/s: I’ve just realized that this is my 99th post. Maybe you guys can comment on which of my posts that you either like, dislike or can vividly remember ever since you start reading my blog. That would surely give me some ideas on what to write for my 100th post. Thanks!

14 comments:

  1. ehehhe..i loikee la ex-cikgu...but don't u think there are lot more english word di malaykan?sounds weird!!;D

    thumbs up to sapik yg mmg suka mengomel..eheheh

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  2. enny: takde masalah pun kalau nak tukar from english to malay,just make sure perkataan tu mmg takde dlm malay la.kalau dah ade,tapi gatal2 nak tukar from english tu malay,tu tak sedar diri namenye!hehe

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  3. Agreed! When you start doing this, kids tend to get more confused, I guess. Thus explained their poor results in BM, or English for that matter. Look, I can be smart too! Well, sometimes. Haha. Nice post btw. :)

    -(the not-so-anonymous) Meme :)

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  4. meme: yes,i know you ARE smart :)

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  5. HA! well said. kebetulan plak kan dua2 jarang blogging, tp bila blog boleh hari sama, topik pun sama. haha

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  6. adian: well,great thinkers think alike.mcm long lost brothers la kite ni kan.awwwww....LOL

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  7. Did you also get comment from Perkasa's fans? ;-)

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  8. TTB: oh so that was perkasa's fan?i thought some immature kids.oh wait,perkasa's fan IS immature.and yes,i got their comments too.

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  9. nak bunyi lagi sedap kowt ;P

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  10. anon: takde la sedap mane pun.macam tempoyak rasa budu je sedap die tu.

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  11. well well..transformasi transformers, that's what you get when you're in the govt. the spirit of change but nothing really does. now it's time for you to make a change when you have the chance. :D

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  12. ala cikgu ni, banyak songeh pulak...penah rasa ke?? hihi~

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  13. along: lets just hope that i manage to get the chance first,ok?hehe

    anon: ape plak tak pernah rase.bangun tido je terus makan tempoyak.

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  14. yeap. hopefully you can do what i can't due to no chances being given. ganbatte! ^^

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