Language and the Malaysian Young

Language has been a sensitive topic in the hot and humid Malaysian climate. It causes some people to sweat just thinking about it. But language in itself is not a controversial topic. It is the championing of language that invariably raises the ire of some quarters. Some people will go to great lengths to ensure the primacy of their language. Mild versions of these efforts may take the form of efforts to promote correct grammar and to encourage speaking of "pure" language. More enthusiastic efforts may take the form of defining and mapping the language. Law and government policies are shaped to ensure that the language remains relevant. More extreme efforts may take the form of criminalizing perceived threats to the language.

It is understandable as language is one of the defining features of a people, and its culture. People get worried that if their language becomes obsolete, so too will their way of life. Eventually the question is enshrining the place of a language so that the culture linked to that language will not disappear. A people is cohesive and united, so the idea goes, when its language is being used. Peculiarities in its culture will continue to survive. These unique features in that culture serve to keep that group of people together. 

In the news today, language makes big news in Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is pushing for an amendment to the German constitution. If passed by Parliament, the constitution would be amended to include a new provision: that the official language of the Federal Republic of Germany is German. Apparently Turkish and Arabic are increasingly used by the immigrant population instead of German. (Source: The Telegraph, German Constitution To Be Rewritten Because Of Rise Of Arabic And Turkish - 2nd Dec 2008. Interestingly, the body of the article does not state anything about the rise of Arabic and Turkish. Apparently the writer forgot to address the title.) 

In another report, Otto Wulff of the CDU was quoted (and this may resonate with language purists everywhere): "Language is the most precious jewel of culture. Why shouldn't we protect it in the constitution?" Migrant communities, notably the Turkish population, are not in favour of the move. Kenan Kolat, chairman of the Turkish Community Association, said that the move would be interpreted as an effort towards assimilation. Cem Oezdemir, deputy chairman of Germany's Green Party, had also called for optional Turkish language courses in German schools. (Source: Deutsche Welle, Conservatives Want German Language Protected in Constitution - 2nd Dec 2008) Angela Merkel's personal stand on the matter is that she does not support it, and she is quoted saying: "I don't find it good to put every possible thing into the constitution." (Source: Deutsche Welle, ibid.)

Hans Vorlaender, a political scientist at Dresden's Technical University, was quoted saying that it was an election ploy. While it is obvious that Germany's official language is German, pursuing the point would offend immigrant communities, and also cultural minorities such as Sorbs in Saxony and Danes in Schleswig-Holstein. (Source: Javno (Hungary), German Must Be Enshrined As National Language - 2nd Dec 2008)

Bringing back the point to our Malaysian shores, where a hodge podge of various cultures threatens to breed new cultures, hybrid languages, and hybrid peoples. It is not necessarily a bad thing. To recognise the shift in culture and society, and the emergence of a new hybrid peoples, would be a first step towards dealing with this society. History has shown that hybrid cultures can emerge: The Baba Nyonya, the Chitty, and even the Mamak are recognised communities in the fabric of Malaysian society. Sadly the peculiarities of their communal languages are not being recorded and many will fade with the coming generations, who may not grow up in environments where these languages are spoken. The Ethnologue website lists 516 languages that are nearly extinct. In Malaysia, these "nearly extinct" languages include: Mintil, Orang Kanaq, and Punan Batu. (To be honest, I have never heard of these!) 

The world is getting smaller. This may be a truism. Yet I am reminded that despite sharing the same haircuts and the same taste in music, language sometimes poses barriers in multiracial countries. In the past, when the flow of information was controlled, the lack of communication between communities (due to the different languages preferred by different communities) made it easy to keep the peace. People who didn't understand each other much, did not argue much with each other. When this was exploited for good, the results were commendable. When this was exploited for bad (hence, the word "exploit"), the results were divisive and harmful to nation building.

At crucial junctures of this nation's history, our leaders have sought to work together towards shared goals and shared prosperity. This could not be possible without good communication. Yet many years after emancipation, misinformation, or "double talk", sometimes occur. This may take the form of telling certain portions of society to tolerate, while telling another portion of society that all is well. In the short run, peace remains. But in the long run, the one told to "tolerate" may well reason to himself that there is no point in tolerating what he perceives as a wrong. And when the explosion comes, the one who has been told that all is well, will find that all is not well. 

In my opinion, to promote co-existence of all races in Malaysia, the young should be taught each other's language. This may mean that an Indian boy will learn Mandarin, and a Malay boy will learn Tamil. The Chinese boy may learn Kadazan. Unless I am mistaken, no loss has ever come of learning a new language, and more so a language of another community in this nation. Therefore all students should be required to learn (at their own pace) the languages of major races in this country. If this suggestion were to be realised, there is no doubt that national integration would quickly ensue. Individuals would cease to look upon other individuals as members of the "other", and quickly learn that every individual is, when you look past his colour and his creed, a fellow human being who is very similar to himself. They share similar dreams of building families and accumulating wealth, of providing for their families and educating their children, and living in a country bolstered by strong fundamentals. They abhor war and inflation, and fear joblessness and crime. 

Former Education Director of Sabah, Datuk Kamal Quadra, was quoted saying:

The Government is sincere. Parents can now choose whether they want their children to study in national or vernacular schools. We appreciate the Federal Government's approval for minority languages to be taught in schools. The Kadazan language is now included as a subject in the primary school curriculum in Sabah.

[Source: Daily Express (Sabah), "Teaching Religion Is A Must" - 5th May 2005]

This may be a precedent for future education policy considerations. Young people may see learning their own vernacular language as a boon or a bane. They are motivated by their own reasons. In South Africa, young South Asian students (of Indian origin) have been divided over whether learning Tamil would be of any use. (Source: The Times (South Africa), Youth Divided Over Relevance Of Eastern Languages In South Africa - 30th Nov. 2008) This situation could have been avoided if these young South Asian students had been forced to learn their own vernacular language by way of education syllabus compulsory requirements.

On a side note, it may be speculated that the ability to understand each other was a factor in the formation of the European Union. It is reported that over the past 30 years, primary schools all over Europe have increasingly taught foreign languages to primary school students. The study shows that over 90% of young students in the EU learn English, and additionally learn at least one foreign language by the time they are in primary school. From the report:

While in most cases, children learn a foreign language from the age of eight to 10 years of age, in some cases, there is even an earlier start: in all autonomous communities of Spain, and in Belgium's German speaking community, children learn a foreign language from the age of three.

The countries that include at least one foreign language from the first or second year of compulsory primary education are Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, France, Norway, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Estonia, Finland and Sweden.
[Source: Sofia Echo, Pupils in the EU are learning foreign languages at an earlier age - 21st Nov 2008]

Maybe, one day, when we all understand each other a little better, we will be able to unite in one purpose. We will build this nation into a stronger vehicle to take us into the next fifty years. One prominent Malay politician in the current political landscape used to write on banners, 我们是一家人 (translation: We are one family). The fact that his feats were applauded by members of the Chinese community, shows firmly that multilingualism is the way forward for Malaysia. With so many different communities in this great nation, efforts to make the young speak each others' distinct languages would be akin to giving them the key to the various strongholds that have heretofore contributed to doublespeak. In another time, in the efforts of a future leader, a more progressive educational policy may include optional subjects such as Japanese and Hindi to empower young Malaysians so that they can become global citizens.

Redefining the Struggle

It has been more than half a century since this great nation declared its independence and its freedom from the shackles of colonization. In the course of achieving independence, the Alliance was formed through the thoughtful co-operation between the original team of UMNO, MCA and MIC. The Alliance was a dominant force in emerging Malayan politics. In 1957 Independence was achieved with resounding applause from all citizens of the then-nascent Malaya. In 1963 the addition of Singapore and the states of Borneo increased the multiculturism and multiracism of this great land. Despite being divided by a forbidding sea, our two halves were joined by the desire to unite with a view of celebrating our shared past, and our shared struggles. No doubt, the racial composition of the two lands were very much different. Malaya was populated by a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian. Singapore was populated by a majority Chinese population. Sabah and Sarawak were populated by indigenous tribes with a smattering of Chinese, Indian and Malays. It was a happy existence.

In due course of time, however, the happy halcyon days that this newlyborn nation was used to, soon faded into the past. In 1965 Singapore was seceded. The May 13 tragedy of 1969 cast a dark pall on the future of this land. Many leaders became cowed and afraid of the repeat of another May 13. In 1974, Barisan Nasional was formed, in part to incorporate the opposition parties at the time into a coalition government. Then, as now, there was a sense of urgency to unite and strengthen the ties of solidarity. The National Front, or Barisan Nasional as it was known, had a noble goal of representing both pro-government and opposition parties. Its use of weighing scales was meant to show the balance between the members of the Alliance, and the other member parties of the National Front.

Today the National Front, or Barisan Nasional, seems to be lost. It is seeking a direction. What was originally intended to be a balance between the voices of the Alliance, and their detractors, has become a tool to subsume the voices of opposition. In the end, the opposition political parties which joined the BN became one with the other members of the BN. They lost their voice, and with that voice, their bite. In short, they lost their power to convince the Malaysian voting public, that they were still effective. Instead the National Front of today seems to be steered by its chairman: UMNO. UMNO has become the predominant voice within the Barisan. Indeed the lineup of the Barisan Nasional has evolved to reflect the lineup of UMNO's top exco members.

Today the question that must be asked is: Where is the Barisan Nasional government headed? What are its aims? How will it remain relevant, and therefore elected, for the next 50 years? There must begin to emerge from the morass of conflicting ideas and convoluted politicking, some coherent direction, acceptable to all and shared by all. It will be easier to start with common aspirations: better economics, free education, free healthcare, better immigration policies, boosted microlending and microfinancing, fair competition laws, abolition of oppressive and archaic laws, allowing greater freedom of expression, whistleblower laws, implementing consumption taxes, establishing a human rights court, etc. A declaration of Barisan's aims and goals, with corresponding target dates for achievement, can be drafted up by the architects of our nation's bright future. Let this declaration be not racial nor religious in tones. It is easier to identify the lacking elements in our laws and policies, and implement measures that can aid in achieving our nation's lofty goals, rather than to dwell on past achievements.

Society is changing. Politicians must change, along with the changes that take place around them. If politicians and policy makers insist on getting things done "their way" without regard for the ordinary man in the street -- and, ultimately, the man with the vote -- then they are seeking to lose in the next elections, and can only be considered as an unsuitable choice as a partner. When will these changes take place? If you imagine that change will come if we wait long enough, you are mistaken. Change will not take place unless we initiate that change. Let us be the agents of change. Yet despite our recognition that change is necessary, let us be not so quick to jump ship. Can we change the direction of our vessel? Let us consider this question. Unless we try, we will never know. Therefore, it must be acknowledged that efforts to bring about material changes in our circumstances -- law, politics, and policies -- must not only work outward, but also inward. An organization, unless it is in tune with the desires of the members of the public, will quickly fall into obscurity, or even worse -- become ignored.

The question is, what will the content of the new agenda be? And is the revamp of an age old political body possible? As I have earlier stated, it is possible. Even an old dog can learn new tricks. It just takes a little more effort, and a little more desire.

三字经

Background

An explanation from Chinese Wiki:

The Three Character Classic, Trimetric Classic or San Zi Jing (Traditional Chinese: 三字經; Simplified Chinese: 三字经) is one of the Chinese classic texts. It was probably written in the 13th century and attributed to Wang Yinglin (王應麟, 1223-1296) during the Song Dynasty. It is also attributed to Ou Shizi (區適子, 1234-1324).

The work is not one of the traditional six Confucian classics, but rather the embodiment of Confucian thought suitable for teaching young children. Until the latter part of the 19th century, it served as a child's first formal education at home. The text is written in triplets of characters for easy memorization. With illiteracy common for most people at the time, the oral tradition of reciting the classic ensured its popularity and survival through the centuries. With the short and simple text arranged in three-character verses, children learned many common characters, grammar structures, elements of Chinese history and the basis of Confucian morality.

The Text

人之初，性本善。性相近，习相远。苟不教，性乃迁。教之道，贵以专。
昔孟母，择邻处。子不学，断机杼。窦燕山，有义方。教五子，名俱扬。
养不教，父之过。教不严，师之惰。子不学，非所宜。幼不学，老何为。
玉不琢，不成器。人不学，不知义。为人子，方少时。亲师友，习礼仪。
香九龄，能温席。孝于亲，所当执。融四岁，能让梨。悌于长，宜先知。
首孝悌，次见闻。知某数，识某文。一而十，十而百。百而千，千而万。
三才者，天地人。三光者，日月星。三纲者，君臣义。父子亲，夫妇顺。
曰春夏，曰秋冬。此四时，运不穷。曰南北，曰西东。此四方，应乎中。
曰水火，木金土。此五行，本乎数。十干者，甲至癸。十二支，子至亥。
曰黄道，日所躔。曰赤道，当中权。赤道下，温暖极。我中华，在东北。
曰江河，曰准济。此四渎，水之纪。曰岱华，蒿恒衡。此五岳，山之名。
曰士农，曰工商。此四民，国之良。曰仁义，礼智信。此五常，不容紊。
地所生，有草木。此植物，遍水陆。稻粱菽，麦黍稷。此六谷，人所食。
马牛羊，鸡犬豕。此六畜，人所饲。曰喜怒，曰哀惧。爱恶欲，七情具。
匏土革，木石金。与丝竹，乃八音。高曾祖，父而身。身而子，子而孙。
自子孙，至玄曾。乃九族，人之伦。父子恩，夫妇从。兄则友，弟则恭。
长幼序，友与朋。君则敬，臣则忠。此十义，人所同。凡训蒙，须讲究。
详训怙，明句读。为学者，必有初。小学终，至四书。论语者，二十篇。
群弟子，记善言。孟子者，七篇止。讲道德，说仁义。作中庸，子思笔。
中不偏，庸不易。作大学，乃曾子。自修齐，至平治。孝经通，四书熟。
如六经，始可读。诗书易，礼春秋。号六经，当讲求。有连山，有归藏。
有周易，三易详。有典谟，有训诰。有誓命，书之奥。我周公，作周礼。
著六官，存治体。大小戴，注礼记。述圣言，礼乐备。曰国风，曰雅颂。
号四诗，当讽咏。诗既亡，春秋作。寓褒贬，别善恶。三传者，有公羊。
有左氏，有谷梁。经既明，方读子。撮其要，记其事。五子者，有荀杨。
文中子，及老庄。经子通，读诸史。考世系，知终始。自羲农，至黄帝。
号三皇，居上世。唐有虞，号二帝。相揖逊，称盛世。夏有禹，商有汤。
周文武，称三王。夏传子，家天下。四百载，迁夏社。汤伐夏，国号商。
六百载，至纣亡。周武王，始诛纣。八百载，最长久。周辙东，王纲坠。
逞干戈，尚游说。始春秋，终战国。五霸强，七雄出。嬴秦氏，始兼并。
传二世，楚汉争。高祖兴，汉业建。至孝平，王莽篡。光武兴，为东汉。
四百年，终于献。魏蜀吴，争汉鼎。号三国，迄两晋。宋齐继，梁陈承。
为南朝，都金陵。北元魏，分东西。宇文周，与高齐。迨至隋，一土宇。
不再传，失统绪。唐高祖，起义师。除隋乱，创国基。二十传，三百载。
梁灭之，国乃改。炎宋兴，受周禅。十八传，南北混。辽与金，皆称帝。
太祖兴，国大明。号洪武，都金陵。迨成祖，迁燕京。十六世，至崇祯。
阉乱后，寇内讧。闯逆变，神器终。清顺治，据神京。至十传，宣统逊。
举总统，共和成。复汉土，民国兴。廿二史，全在兹。载治乱，知兴衰。
读史者，考实录。通古今，若亲目。口而诵，心而惟。朝于斯，夕于斯。
昔仲尼，师项橐。古圣贤，尚勤学。赵中令，读鲁论。彼既仕，学且勤。
披蒲编，削竹简。彼无书，且知勉。头悬梁，锥刺股。彼不教，自勤苦。
如囊萤，如映雪。家虽贫，学不缀。如负薪，如挂角。身虽劳，犹苦卓。
苏老泉，二十七。始发愤，读书籍。彼既老，犹悔迟。尔小生，宜早思。
若梁灏，八十二。对大廷，魁多士。彼既成，众称异。尔小生，宜立志。
莹八岁，能咏诗。泌七岁，能赋棋。彼颖悟，人称奇。尔幼学，当效之。
蔡文姬，能辨琴。谢道韫，能咏吟。彼女子，且聪敏。尔男子，当自警。
唐刘晏，方七岁。举神童，作正字。彼虽幼，身己仕。尔幼学，勉而致。
有为者，亦若是。犬守夜，鸡司晨。苟不学，曷为人。蚕吐丝，蜂酿蜜。
人不学，不如物。幼而学，壮而行。上致君，下泽民。扬名声，显父母。
光于前，裕于后。人遗子，金满嬴。我教子，惟一经。勤有功，戏无益。
戒之哉，宜勉力。

Further Reading

Baidu - http://baike.baidu.com/view/10702.htm
Yellow Bridge - Quite an in-depth explanation