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.
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