Tag: language

Abdillah Zamzuri: Berita Harian Must Ensure Proper Use Of Bahasa Melayu In Reports
Today, I woke up and as per usual, I was scrolling through my Facebook updates when I came across a Berita Harian link which a friend had posted, I thought long and hard and assessed all angles possible as to why the journalist had decided to use the word ‘HANFON’ instead of ‘Telefon Bimbit’ to describe, handphone.

So, I took out my mobile phone or handphone and checked on my Kamus Pro app as to whether or not Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) had decided to adopt and accept ‘Hanfon’ as an official Malay word.

I typed ‘handphone’ and I got nothing. I typed ‘mobile phone’ and I got nothing.

I typed ‘phone’ and I got 2:
1. n (colloq) telefon: can I have your address and – number?, boleh beri saya alamat dan nombor telefon kamu?
2. n (phonetics) bunyi, fon.
So, I saw the word ‘fon’ for the second one. MAYBE, I missed something out. I mean, I’m conducting Malay programmes in schools and it’s my personal responsibility to use the correct words and terms in the classroom. Perhaps, in the course of my busy schedule, I could have missed out on something.

So, I searched for ‘hanfon’ in the same Kamus Pro app, which is the official Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Malay Dictionary application, the same organisation that researches, writes, prints and distributes Malay Dictionaries which Singapore students and teachers (and I hope those who use the Malay Language as part of their work) use.

The search was futile.

Okay, so maybe DBP isn’t updated so I google searched for ‘hanfon’ and the first hit I got was that it was a WELSH translation on mymemory.translated.net which meant, ‘SENT’.

So, at this juncture, is where I feel extremely angry because the reporter had not exercised personal and professional responsibility to ensure that they were using the right words to report in a national publication read by thousands and used by thousands of students and teachers in schools.

I cannot imagine the horror of Malay Language teachers trying to explain to students that ‘hanfon’ isn’t a Malay word and that it cannot be used in writing compositions but then again, how can the Malay Language teacher justify it when a professional writing for the official Malay newspaper in Singapore is using improper words.

For us, Malays and Malay Language Teachers to claim that Malay Language is not being used by students and the young properly, and have difficulty to teach it isn’t just the responsibility of Malay Language Teachers alone. It is and should be the responsibility of all who use the Malay Language, especially so if you are a working professional publishing the NATIONAL MALAY LANGUAGE DAILY.

To cut corners in view of space constraint and switch with using a word that does not even exist in the Malay dictionary is simply irresponsible, lacks integrity, lacks professionalism and clearly, shouldn’t even be allowed to in the first place.

If this improper and unjustified use of the Bahasa Melayu continues at Berita Harian, I cannot imagine how the future of Malay journalism will look like.

So, I’m appealing to all of you reading this, to not only share this post but also, to write in to BH to provide your feedback. That is about all we can do.

Source: https://abdillahzamzuri.wordpress.com
January 19, 2016
PRC Waitress At Tang Tea House Takes Effort To Speak Malay To Malay-Majority Clientele

It is sad that there are still people who don’t recognize that Malay is our National Language. And worse still, they insist the minorities should learn Mandarin instead of the majority picking up the National Language.

It is also sad that there are some foreigners who don’t want to learn English.

I went to Tang Tea House for lunch just now. These days even Halal food outlets employ PRC. There was this waitress. She spoke with a Mainland accent. But what struck me was that she made the effort to learn Malay and took my order in Malay. I am a very happy customer. I patronize Tang Tea House because they trained their staff very well especially the foreigners.

Source: Hazrul A. Jamari

October 23, 2015
Proud To Be Among Rare Breed Of Malay Commandos In Singapore

Dear Sir,

What you may not understand is the history of Malays serving in the army especially in the Commandos. I served my NS in 1st Commando Bn and during that time (mid90s), I was the only Malay in my batch.

I had to overcome many challenges then, e.g. no Muslim cookhouse in Hendon camp then, restrictions placed on me, etc. But I managed to survive my NS days with the help of all my Commando buddies, regardless of race. We were a band of brothers.

Even now, Malays in Commandos are few and far in between. So you can understand my pride when I see a fellow Malay Commando who have managed to become an officer, doing the unit proud.

Thank you.

Zullkarnain Aziz

Source: Ng Eng Hen

August 1, 2015
An Open Letter To Grassroots Leaders About The Word Cum

Esteemed grassroots leaders,

I am writing to highlight an important issue surrounding our banners in this day and age.

You see, as a local blogger, aspiring journalist and young punk, I am intrigued by the number of posters – even at this day and age – that use the word ‘cum’.

Reddit

Yes, ‘cum’. And if you’re giggling, stop.

Because if you’re giggling, you jolly well know what people think the word ‘cum’ means. And it certainly doesn’t mean ‘in conjunction with’.

Bukit Batok East blog

Some of you might be asking: “punk, who gave you the rights to the English language?knnccb, we Singaporeans we like to use the word ‘cum’, cannot ah?”

Truth be told, your publicity officers (or fellow grassroots leaders) have left the word everywhere.

Bukit Batok blog

They’re most commonly found in banners…

Bukit Batok East blog

but some of them have gotten in our flyers as well.

Sembawang Town Council

They’re even on our websites – and more ironically, on a banner publicising a clean-up day.

The thing is – the word ‘cum’ can be simply avoided by a matter of planning.

You can dodge it with an ampersand (for those of you who aren’t atas enough to know what it means, it’s a “&”).

Everything East

Or you could simply use the word ‘and’ – it’s frankly not that difficult.

Given the simplicity of their replacements I have no idea why there are some esteemed leaders who insist on using the word.

Toa Payoh RC Facebook

It frankly leaves a bad taste in the mouth – and none of us certainly appreciate it –

Bukit Batok East blog

So please, stop getting the word ‘cum’ in our eyes.

If not, I’ll have to write up another article cum anti-’cum’ campaign to stop you.

Source: http://the-yishus.sg

June 4, 2015
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin: Don’t Kill Bahasa Melayu

CANBERRA: Deputy Prime Minster Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Bahasa Melayu had a place as the language of knowledge and it should not be sacrificed amid efforts to empower the English language.

In defending the government’s decision to revert the teaching of Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Melayu from English, the deputy prime minister made his stand clear on this.

“As a Malaysian, I don’t think my language should be killed just because I want to strengthen English language usage,” he said during the question-and-answer session with members of the Malaysian community and students at a gathering, here, Tuesday night.

The event held at the Malaysian High Commission premises in Canberra kicked off Muhyiddin’s three-day working visit to the Australian capital and Perth. He had flown into Canberra from Nagoya, Japan this afternoon after attending an international conference on education for sustainable development.

Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, said his views on this matter were not because he is Malay as it had more to do with his concern over the issue of imparting and absorbing knowledge in an effective manner.

“This is not a question of my nationality because if Malaysia had not started that way (upholding Bahasa Melayu)…. it means for both subjects, Bahasa Melayu would just die,” he said.

Muhyiddin explained that he would not be fair to Malaysian students if the move to teach Science and Mathematics in English was continued given the constraints faced by the ministry.

He cited insufficient qualified teachers to carry out the task at hand as among the reasons the decision to revoke the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English was made in 2009.

He pointed out that many of the teachers were the product of a system in which the medium of instruction was Bahasa Melayu.

Muhyiddin said during the time that the policy was implemented, many teachers involved would automatically revert to Bahasa Melayu when students in Science and Mathematics classes failed to understand what was being taught, and this defeated the purpose of the introduction of the policy in the first place.

“Maybe in your school, it is okay but for many other schools, ít’s not okay, as the teachers are not qualified, so the students don’t understand. But what is wrong with Bahasa Melayu (to teach Science and Mathematics)? So now we’ve gone back to Bahasa Melayu.

“Ánd the students can understand. For me, I’m concerned about knowledge; Science is knowledge, Maths is knowledge. Language is the medium. So if you are concerned about English, I’ll teach you English,” he said.

Muhyiddin cited Japan which excelled in various fields of knowledge despite everything being in Japanese.

*Article first appeared on BERNAMA

Source: www.malaysiandigest.com

November 18, 2014