Seriously, I’ve never had this problem before. I don’t think it should be a problem as to what language I want to write my personal blog in. What could be so wrong with using standardised, proper English in my blog entries? I have no idea who this person who sent this e-mail is:
Apesal korang anak Melayu susah sangat nak tulis dalam bahasa sendiri ha? Sana sini soksek soksek alih alih tulis dalam bahasa orang putih. Ada bahasa sendiri bt la cara ade bahasa sendiri. Konon ade kelas la kalau guna bahasa orang putih tu. Boleh jalan la.
I don’t know who this person is. Maybe I don’t want to know who he or she is, because there’s a nagging feeling at the back of my head telling me that this person is no stranger to me.
EDIT: So I found out who he is. Thank God he isn’t anyone important in my life. He just happens to be a guy my friends and I were arguing with in some educational forum.
So why do I only write in English? I have good reasons for this.
- I’m a teacher-trainee majoring in TESOL, and that is teaching English to speakers of other languages. I need to be able to use the language at ease before I can teach others.
- I don’t speak much at home, not in English and not in whatever language. During the holidays, I am confined to the comfort of my bedroom. I don’t like going out and hanging out with friends. With limited opportunities for verbal communication, I choose to practice my English online.
- When I do speak English, it’s usually only with my parents. Since school, people look at me like I’m mad if I speak English. I just happen to live in this small community where 99% of the locals are Malays.
- My English is FAR FROM PERFECT and I am well aware of this fact. I promised my coordinator to improve my command of English and to not let it be taken down by lack of practice during the holidays.
- I have trouble writing in casual, conversation-like tone without sounding like a total prick so excuse me for writing blogs like an old lady.
- I have many non-Malaysian friends who obviously don’t speak my language. What better way to make them understand if not by writing it in the language they’d understand?
Just becauseI’m writing in English doesn’t mean I don’t like my mother language. I have unpublished novels written in Malay to prove it. They were written in what you’d call ‘puitis, berbunga dan gramatis‘ language (that’s poetic, flowery and grammatical to some of you who know who you are =D )
I ask you to eat back your words, whoever you are. Stop being so narrow minded, and stop being a prejudist. You have no right to make such claims. In crude English: Stop being a total prick because your badassery and mindfuckery won’t work on me.
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16 Comments
Just ignore them. You can’t please all the people all the time. But you did get a post out of it
English is really good for communication. Especially if you work on international company. To be good and international must be using English rite?
What I don’t understand about those who wrote in Malay is their usage of short terms and changing the Malay words to any spelling they like such as “Apesal, korang, ade” It makes their writing hard to read.Shouldn’t they stick to the real Malay words and has a proper grammar and proper sentence making? The same applies to when they speak in their own slang and local words. Shouldn’t they apply the same standard as what was learned in Malay language class during secondary school? Really can’t understand what they speak or write.
Lol~ Yes, I did get a post out of it. It just pissed me off because this person could be a backstabber of some sort XD
You’re absolutely correct
I don’t know. It would be fine, and seemingly friendly in comments. In posts, it just makes the post seems bad. Yup, I like what you’ve said. Makes me feel better, thank you~
I don’t see anything wrong with it. Isn’t your post is for the entire world to read. Such comments just showing their ignorance of the importance of English, probably biased and intentional mockery to people who use English. This came from a guy whe felt he used too much English in everyday life (me)..
I don’t see anything wrong with it.
My point exactly. I just wish I know who the bastard is. Or maybe not. Ignorance can be bliss, no?
I love you.
(Lol, I was going to leave it at that, but I had a nagging feeling to accompany with some sort of agreement to what you said. Having experienced this type of narrow-mindedness in my life (for I too am a person who speaks in old-lady fashion, something which I’m proud of in fact), I feel you’ve explained the reasons quite beautifully. But I guess this is one of the many challenges we’ll have to face to help the same people who are against us. May we be blessed with much patience when we begin back home.)
Happy New Year!
*loves back* We old-lady-like writers are in no way old fashioned, no? Thanks dearie
We all shall survive when the time comes for us to continue the teaching legacy of our predecessors.
What made them email that harsh comment to you?
Honestly? I have no idea myself. I was talking about the importance of English with my friends in one online forum (let’s not mention the forum’s name here ^^). There’s this guy who butted in and started arguing about the implementation of English into our education system.
I guess some people are just extreme in their ways of thinking.
ppl talk. but not all ppl think. i like reading ur blog.most probably that person was just so-extremely-childishly jealous with ur ability to write in English. go intan!
Thank you kak mard~ Seriously, people at the forum I frequent can be so narrow minded. I think I’m sure now, this person frequents the same forum ^^
huh,narrow-minded person!
the statement just makes he/she look stupid. *sigh*
If only you guys were there when we argued with this guy. Huhu.. I found out who he is at last, and I was correct.