National Language vs. English Language
Although Mandarin is the most widely used language in the world right now, English Language should not be forgotten. English is still a common language used by every one, globally even though there are other languages such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi and so on.
Everyone should learn how to speak and write in proper English because it is important. A person cannot go around speaking broken English, which we are doing right now, and Grammar mistakes in their writings. However, not all of us are speaking in broken English.
Somehow, there are people out there who can’t care less about this language because to them it does not matter. For example, Bahasa Melayu is the national language in Malaysia and all of us need to know how to speak and write in Bahasa Melayu. Well, yes, Bahasa Melayu is the national language here, in Malaysia but still the citizens should place an importance in their English Language as well.
In the Bangkok Post, 11th August 2005, it was said that Thais have the second-worst English Language skills in Southeast Asia. This is what happens when the citizens have set their minds that English is not as important as their national language.
Yes, I do agree that our national language is important, even our mother tongues, but however, we need to know the importance of being able to speak and write in good English because if we don’t we will be left out. And to catch up once we’re far behind the others, it’s a very tedious task.
So, I’d say prevention is definitely better than cure.
It won’t hurt us to know more and be proficient in more than one language because it will thus benefit us because somehow we need English in our daily communication although the existence of mother tongues and national languages are still there.
Well, dear readers, what do you think? Do drop me your thoughts regarding this post. Thanks.
which country has the worst English skills in SEA then?
boringest said this on August 11th, 2005 at 11:01 pm
whats in a language….i am sure more malays can speak good english these days…whatever the arguments are…there is no denying the fact that english is getting the upperhand
devilwitattitude said this on August 11th, 2005 at 11:31 pm
I think it may be a little more complicated than that.
Language is not just a medium of communication, it is a medium through which culture is transfered as well. Nationalists may have had specific agendas by devaluing the language of our former colonial masters.
While there are good reasons to adopt English as a First Language apart from BM, there are socio-political questions involved. Imagine if everyone spoke english, could converse in it well, and english becomes a medium of communication between all parties of all ethnic groups. What would that mean for ethnic dominance of one group over others?
(as a sidenote, consider how having schools that are ethnically segregated and taught in differing languages *aids* in keeping ethnic groups separate).
What about the loss of indigenous culture giving way to, what is often termed, “western culture”? Do words like “justice” or “jurisprudence” or “government” have the same connotations as their Bahasa Melayu counterparts? Do they express the same *meaning*? Per definition, probably yes, but the etymology of those words and their cultural weight in the milieu in which those words are formulated are completey different from the way they have arisen in the context of Bahasa Melayu equivalents.
We may use words like “freedom” everyday, in an unconscious way, but think of the emotions, meanings and ideas that single word evokes.. does it paint a picture of a sense in which the idea, “liberation-from” persists, and not just “no-obstacle-to-act”? One may remark that separating different meanings of a word shouldn’t be read-into so much, but consider *how* these different meanings arose.
Yeah, English is important, but as long as there’s a socio-political agenda involved, don’t count on it being pushed to the forefront without great reluctance.
xpyre said this on August 12th, 2005 at 2:10 am
I agree with you about the importance of English.
I don’t blame people with poor English, after all I’m not very good neither. Also, for most Malaysians, English is not their first language, but second language or even third language. How many people can speak and write, say, good English and good Malay, or good English and good Chinese?
The most important thing for me is that we always try to improve ourselves.
~Jessy~ said this on August 13th, 2005 at 12:15 am
Hi Jessy.
I go agree with you that we need to improve ourselves - always. But being an all rounder is best because we will have all the qualities within us. And neither do I look down on others as well because we are not perfect as well.
Well, I have linked you up and I hope you wouldn’t mind.
Cheers!!!
Administrator said this on August 13th, 2005 at 12:26 am
I agree, being an all rounder is the best. Accepting cultures and able to adapt to various circumstances. =)
Stay blessed!!!
Victor said this on August 13th, 2005 at 12:33 am
people there!!!
English Language Globally??????
abdul hattah azis said this on October 14th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
I think whether it be English,Bahasa Melayu orMandarin,we need to try to improve all these three languages. In this corparate world,we need to master all three languages i order to shine out. Furthermore, we are more versatile if we can speak different languages,especially the main three.
Talking about unity,if 4o% of the nation can speak all three languages,unity can be achived.
Daniel said this on July 1st, 2006 at 3:30 pm