Early this month Pakcik was prompted to express the means of communication I prefer, f/b vis-a vis e-mail and blog. Knowing that I do not like f/b a few friends dared Pakcik to accept them as f/b ‘friends’. It is all in good spirit. We are still friends even if they cannot stand the very smell of budu!
All the while things have been hotting up in the papers. All sectors have finally admitted that we are not at ‘taraf antara bangsa’ ( world-class) after all as far as the current English education in Malaysia is concerned – even Bahasa Melayu for that matter. I am sorry having to maintain Bahasa Melayu, not Bahasa Malaysia, for whatever reasons it is English language, not restyled and renamed as United Kingdom language.
It tickled me to read the headline in NST last Monday – Mind your language
Then on the following day, also in New Sunday Times, I read the call to ‘Arrest language decline’.
Our DPM was reported to have said that “ …. It is important for teachers to remind students to always use the standard form of the language in class. There is a need to differentiate between the use of formal and informal languages…”
Someone then said that “teachers must play a role in tackling the problem...”
It is unanimous that we all have to arrest the language decline, Malay as wel as English.
Years ago Pakcik wrote in a Malay paper how Dewan Bahasa ‘telah merojakkan bahasa Melayu’. To me Dewan Bahasa (DBP) have butchered the Malay language with uncalled for inclusion of unnecessary English words, and for promoting 'bahasa baku' at the expense of Jawi and words with Arabic roots.
And in April 24th, Pakcik wrote in Rencana, “Pertahankan nilai baik dalam siaran TV” in which I criticised the indecent behaviour of artists and the improper language used by masters of ceremony.
And I have strived to the best of my ability to teach manners and proper language – caring little for ‘format exam’ (I wonder what language this is - as my Almanar pupils often tell me what their teachers emphasise on in class). Within my own limitations, I want my Almanar children to be as good as possible in the subjects I help them. And I will continue to do it my way, the way I was taught 60 (sixty) years ago.
Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan
16 comments:
Dear Pakcik,
Languages have a way of making themselves beautiful. It's being sensuous as French is and a language of commerce as English is! For that reason writing good English is very necessary to keep the wheels of progress moving.
Hank
Dear Pakcik,
Having a strict mom, none of us are allowed to use "bahasa rojak" although she loves to eat "mi rojak" very much. We haven't even posted any entry in Bahasa Melayu, if you notice....anyway, this issue is never ending to the point of being tiresome. We salute your relentless ways. purrr....meow!
Our Education Policy has left the majority of the Malay with only one language the BM at their command. The other Malaysian has at least two languages. Even the Iban of Sarawak and the Dusun of Sabah has got two languages at their command.
For the Malay without the English language they would continue to failed miserably.
Take care.
Hank,
We think alike. Withiut mastery in a language we cannot hope to have continuity in leterary heritage of a race. Malays are rich in language; apecialised ways of addressing commoners, honoured individuals and royalties; adik and adinda, mak dan bonda and so on. The sense of respect or otherwise has to be nourished from childhood days; dimaalum, diberi tahu, dicerita etc, aku, saya, hamba, patik, kamu, tuan hamba, saudara, tyuan ku etc have their appropriate uses. It is not just u and i.
C-of-S,
Indeed, apart from scratching and meowing you are as human as Pakcik and Makcik. We have not heard the last of the language issue yet. It is tiresome as you rightly said. We just carry on the wasy we have been used to.
Pak Idrus,
That is what you and I say. But who cares other than making an issue, political or otherwise? But we must not forget that we now have so many who address themselves, 'Saya doktor so and so..', you and I are just plain 'Pak ...'
Pk Idrus thank you for expressing your thought to Pakcik.
I think most Malaysians today agree that we must be good at English, but we must not forget to master our national language.
Many of us now, our leaders in particular, would say that our national language is Bahasa Malaysia. Frankly, Bahasa Malaysia sounds like a new language to me. We might want to ask ourselves, and Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka too, whether Bahasa Melayu is still around.
Temuk,
We do not seem to be proud enough of the proper name for our language, distancing ourselves from the language of our forefathers. We want to be English in outlook of our language.
One newspaper today had this headline 'Jamin tiada manipulasi'. Melays do not know memutar belik, menipu, menkhianatetc.
P Ramlee chose not to coin the word 'sinima' for cinema. Instead he introduced 'pawagam' - panggung wayang gambar.. So manipulasi comes from 'mani pula sikit'!
I am sorry to be seen rude, Tuan Temuk. It comes out of 'frastrasi' and 'engeri'.
To me it will always be Bahasa Melayu. Saya bangsa Melayu. Saya orang Malaysia.
Ninot,
If most of us want Bahasa Melayu who has done it otherwise? Shouldn't DBP be made accountable? It is rhen a case of 'harapkan pagar pagar makan padi'
Salam Pakcik,
Everything comes down to us teachers...teachers should do this....teachers should do that. It has become a national issue so I think everyone must play their part in tackling the problem. We do not only have problem with 'bahasa rojak', but also the 'IT-language' ...itew,gitew... I always have problem understanding my students's SMS.
Wishing Pakcik and family Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha.
RA
السلم عليكم ورحمة الله
Pondok menjadi bangsal,
Bangsal ada dihujung desa,
Usul menunjukkan asal,
Bahasa menunjukkan bangsa.
Teluk Emas Tanjung Ketapang,
Tempat Uda mengail tenggiri,
Bersalut emas hebat dipandang,
Sayang bahasa ke mana pergi.
RA,
I sympathise with teachers who seem to bear most of the faults created in the first place by the gods sitting above the clouds oblivious of the detreriorating standard and the damage caused by uncontrolled bahasa rojak, both Malay as well as English.
Cikgu Humairi,
WAKS WRMT WBRT
Inginnya saya hendak membalas pantun. Apakan daya kata orang ingin mmemeluk gunung tangan tak sampai.
Cantik dan dalam nya makna pantun Cikgu. Terima kasih meninggal nya untuk Almanar dan pembaca.
Dear Pakcik,
It's really sad to see students, including pure Malays who have difficulty writing a proper paragraph in correct BM. Part of this problem stems from the lack of reading good books,the influence of bad language in the social media and the strong use of local dialects among students. Alas, also negative attitude towards reading.For example, knowing that most of my end-class students do not have good reading material at home, I bought them suitable magazines but to my horror and despair, I had to nag them to read.
I always believe that BM should be left pure. Why use 'informasi' when we can write 'maklumat', 'trafik' instead of 'lalulintas'? Pardon me, but adding English words when there is already a suitable word in BM just shows that the Malays are not confident in their own language?
Aliya,
Now I am know for sure which side you are leaning. I would now not have a second thought to seek your view on certain issues. Thank you for making it clear where you stand.
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