I'm no linguist. But since posting my previous personal post regarding the Chinese and English language, I am itching to write this post on the functions of languages.
Let me begin by describing my sins of the past. I used to loathe "bananas". Yes, by "bananas" I mean those English speaking Chinese who can't speak a word of Chinese (other than the few famous phrases spoken in those HK TV serials aired over RTM and ASTRO). That was more than 10 years ago. Many things happened since, and I've come to let go my prejudice. However, this doesn't mean I'm any less insistent on the education of the Chinese Language for Malaysian Chinese.
This is mainly because I see a Language as more than just a tool of communication. Language also represents a way of life, a way of thought and most importantly a cultural representation. Therefore, by foregoing your right to learn Chinese is like losing a part of you as Chinese. (Note: I'm not being racist or promoting cultural superiority here. That being a proud Chinese doesn't make you any less Malaysian because, I think, we all can agree that there's a vast difference between Malaysian Chinese and China Chinese)
Many of my English-speaking friends disagree with me. Insisting that culture and language are independent of each other. My simple answer to them is this: reading Shakespeare in Mandarin is quite different from the English version. And likewise if you are reading Sun Tzu's art of war in English, the 'feel' is very different. Moreover, terms such as 'gentleman' are difficult to translate to Chinese and likewise 君子 is not possible (or near impossible) to translate to the other.
It is not possible to describe what 君子 means in a word or two. You'll have to understand Chinese literature and history and stories to understand how the concept of 君子 is depicted. And there are many more words like that in both English and Chinese. Language is actually a bridge that connects our thoughts to the real world. But there is always a gap between what we think and what we say or write. Therefore a lot of expressions (words or phrases) in a language are beyond explanation. Only experiences can give you the true meaning of a word or phrase.
I'll give you another example. We all know what love is, in a very general way. But everyone understands love in a very different way because of the love stories we hear, the movies we watch, the way we are brought up, etc. There is nothing that would suffice in explaining what love is until you experience it. A definition of word is not given by the dictionary, but given by one's experience of the world. It is how one perceives the world. And therefore, the teaching of a language will inevitably include the teaching of how one perceives the world.
Given that, it is not surprising why Chinese-educated and English-educated folks think very much differently and view the world quite differently. Not just in the command of language, but also the way they think. And that's why I think there is a minute, but detectable polarisation among those that are Chinese-educated and English-educated. It's because language is closely tied to culture, behaviour and thinking patterns. In Chinese, 'respect' (尊敬) is closely tied to the relationship between the younger ones, and the older ones; between teachers and students. But there isn't any such ties in English version of 'respect'. This is why, in general, Chinese-educated students have a tendency not to challange teachers in the public.
In many parts of the world, there isn't any clear distinction in this function of language. The language used to communicate is the language used predominantly in their respective cultures, e.g. Germans, English, Japan, etc. That is why, I do not expect Chinese nationals (from China) to really understand this situation. In Malaysia, however, it is different. We are a multicultural (or heterogeneous) country, each race with our own preferred choice of language and hence a different set of thoughts.
As a result of this, there are many ongoing arguments in Malaysia on which language we should use for our Math and Science subjects. Some may even argue that Malaysians should use one unified language - English for our education system. There are two issues here. One, should there be only one language? Two, which language should it be if we should only have one unified language for our education system?
But first, let there be no doubt that using one single unified language as the medium of teaching helps the national unity. While learning your own mother tongue is human right, there is no denying that the nation needs to speak or understand one common language for unity to happen. And this so-called common language for unity is not just a language we learn and know per se, but also it becomes the preferred choice of language for communication among ourselves. This is something that even Dong Zong （董总）should realise. And obviously that language will not be Chinese.
Then should it be English? Or Malay?
I noticed that most Asean scholars or Singaporean-educated Malaysians, if given a choice, would prefer to use English as the sole medium of education. I guess, in giving me a choice between Malay and English, I would have chosen English too. As Tony Pua mentioned in his blog, many Chinese-educated students may find it difficult to obtain a good job at the highest level of corporates due to their inept in English language. However, one should not go to the other extreme of our neighbour too.
Decades ago, the then Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew decided to discourage the use of Mandarin in Singapore. He reckons that learning two first languages (English and Chinese) will make Singapore less competitive. Obviously, at that time, when China was just recovering from the cultural revolution and during the pinnacle of cold war, Lee Kuan Yew chose to abandon Mandarin. Just a few years back, however, he changed that. The reason is again obvious - China's back as the superpower of the world. Therefore, I reckon that Singapore is the perfect example in the World that uses the language for nothing, but merely as a communication tool. More precisely, as a business communication tool. And I think that is pathetic.
Given that a language has its cultural value, there is no doubt that I want to learn Mandarin. And I would want my sons and grandsons to learn Mandarin. This language is built up upon more than 3000 years of history. But since, also knowing the fact that Mandarin is impossible to be the 'unifying' language used in Malaysia, I admit I'm in a dilemma in this issue.
But I'm adamant, that one should not pursue a language purely as a tool of communication. It's much more than that.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
English vs Chinese language
I've written quite some posts in mandarin lately. One of my friends wondered, why did I not write them all in one unified language? Is it because I have a specific audience in mind when I write in English and likewise for Chinese?
The answer is no.
Basically, I think in Chinese and English quite independently. Therefore, when I thought of something in English, or if I attended a class or a forum in English, I will write an account of it in English. It will be very difficult for me to translate it to Mandarin or vice versa.
However, there are draw backs to this. One of the most significant ones is that I learn both languages quite separately, i.e. it'll take more time. Also, I'm neither excellent in Mandarin or English. I'm ok at both. So those English-speaking friends find my English ok, but rather unpolished. And my Mandarin-speaking friends will find my Mandarin ok, but with occasional weird sentence structures.
The answer is no.
Basically, I think in Chinese and English quite independently. Therefore, when I thought of something in English, or if I attended a class or a forum in English, I will write an account of it in English. It will be very difficult for me to translate it to Mandarin or vice versa.
However, there are draw backs to this. One of the most significant ones is that I learn both languages quite separately, i.e. it'll take more time. Also, I'm neither excellent in Mandarin or English. I'm ok at both. So those English-speaking friends find my English ok, but rather unpolished. And my Mandarin-speaking friends will find my Mandarin ok, but with occasional weird sentence structures.
最近的政局乱象，是否是民主的阵痛？
刚刚才出席了一个由马华举办的讲座。我觉得这个讲座很有意思。
可惜，很多观众借题发挥，乘机攻击政府和大谈这不是短痛而是剧痛，而偏离整个讲座的题目。我本身觉得这个课题的重点不在乎这是否是阵痛，长痛还是剧痛。而是到底这“痛”是否是因为民主而引起的呢？这“痛”又是否是我们迈向民主化的过程之一呢？
我认为那个答案是否定的。我们最近的政局乱象都是因为政党内外，政客争夺权力而引起的。虽然这乱象也许会带来新的政府，而这新政府也许会为自由与公平带来曙光。然而，民主化不是一个选举的成果，更不是关于谁是政府，而是关于一个机制的改变。
许多观众谈到这个乱象，似乎对现有的政府大感不满。他们提到了石油涨价、通货膨胀、贪污滥权、交通诸塞等的问题。尤其是一位观众，更把民主说成是“民煮”-人民在大锅里面被政府煮，而获得在场观众的如雷掌声。大家好像说成只要马来西亚有了民主，经济问题就会迎刃而解。这不禁让我想起，最近308的政治海啸根本就不是民主的请愿而是对经济状况的埋怨。悲乎！
是不是只要人民没有被煮，而是吃得饱饱的，那你就会情愿不要真正的民主呢？经济有其周期，它的起起伏伏，谁也无法预测。只为了经济而换政府是短视的，是头痛医头，脚痛医脚，治标不治本的。如果换政府，如果成立两宪制，首先必须做的是先建立好一个能够自己运行，自我纠正的机制。这个机制就是一个相对比较完善的民主制。
我们根本没有办法确定民联是否又是一个“50年的独裁国阵”，只是换汤不换药。正如其中一位主讲者所说的：人民是在赌博，过去50年赌输了，这次就一次过赌在民联的身上，希望它真的会开“大”。但如果输了又要再等一个50年。这不就是“赶走了老狼，却迎来饿虎”吗？然而，若有完善的民主机制，我们就可以确保我们不需要等50年，而是4年。
试想想，我们为何推崇民主？回顾人类历史，我们不难发现许多古文明曾经在出色领袖的领导下创造出辉煌的成绩。不过，好景一般都不长留。这些文明一般都在出色领袖去世以后的几个时代就销声匿迹。 古罗马是这样，古希腊和埃及也是这样。在没有民主的情况下，一个文明只需要一个饿狼就能够把过去所有杰出领袖的功劳功亏一篑。民主不一定选出最好的、最善良的领袖。但，它却能确保破坏性能减至最低点。这就是伟大文明传承与延续的关键。
另外，成立更完善的民主机制还有一个重点。就是言论与思想的自由。大马华社可以大谈要开放固大制（quota system)，其实多少也因为华社了解开放了以后对自身族群有利。如果换作你是弱势族群，你会这么着急要开放吗？不是说我不支持开放，其实我对固大制痛恨极了。然而，多少个马来西亚华人真正勇敢地把这个观点与普罗大众的巫裔同胞讨论过呢？在kopitiam就能把这个课题高谈阔论，但在马来朋友面前却步步为营。实际上，除了少数马来精英分子以外，绝大部分的马来人都不认为他们应该放弃固大制或是他们的特权。而我们从小就被灌输这是敏感课题，不宜多谈。merdeka center 曾经做过一个调查显示，大部分马来人认为现有的不公平，主要不是源于不公平的政策。而几乎90%的华人认为是因为不公平的政策。这个认知的落差是不容忽视的。
要走向民主，不是华社说了算。还要马来人了解我们。我们也要了解他们的困境。惟有确立言论自由，建立沟通的桥梁，多鼓励民族间的对话，我们才能真正步向民主。在这个过程中，难免会有一些激烈的争吵。但这是必要的。而这，才是真正的民主阵痛！
可惜，很多观众借题发挥，乘机攻击政府和大谈这不是短痛而是剧痛，而偏离整个讲座的题目。我本身觉得这个课题的重点不在乎这是否是阵痛，长痛还是剧痛。而是到底这“痛”是否是因为民主而引起的呢？这“痛”又是否是我们迈向民主化的过程之一呢？
我认为那个答案是否定的。我们最近的政局乱象都是因为政党内外，政客争夺权力而引起的。虽然这乱象也许会带来新的政府，而这新政府也许会为自由与公平带来曙光。然而，民主化不是一个选举的成果，更不是关于谁是政府，而是关于一个机制的改变。
许多观众谈到这个乱象，似乎对现有的政府大感不满。他们提到了石油涨价、通货膨胀、贪污滥权、交通诸塞等的问题。尤其是一位观众，更把民主说成是“民煮”-人民在大锅里面被政府煮，而获得在场观众的如雷掌声。大家好像说成只要马来西亚有了民主，经济问题就会迎刃而解。这不禁让我想起，最近308的政治海啸根本就不是民主的请愿而是对经济状况的埋怨。悲乎！
是不是只要人民没有被煮，而是吃得饱饱的，那你就会情愿不要真正的民主呢？经济有其周期，它的起起伏伏，谁也无法预测。只为了经济而换政府是短视的，是头痛医头，脚痛医脚，治标不治本的。如果换政府，如果成立两宪制，首先必须做的是先建立好一个能够自己运行，自我纠正的机制。这个机制就是一个相对比较完善的民主制。
我们根本没有办法确定民联是否又是一个“50年的独裁国阵”，只是换汤不换药。正如其中一位主讲者所说的：人民是在赌博，过去50年赌输了，这次就一次过赌在民联的身上，希望它真的会开“大”。但如果输了又要再等一个50年。这不就是“赶走了老狼，却迎来饿虎”吗？然而，若有完善的民主机制，我们就可以确保我们不需要等50年，而是4年。
试想想，我们为何推崇民主？回顾人类历史，我们不难发现许多古文明曾经在出色领袖的领导下创造出辉煌的成绩。不过，好景一般都不长留。这些文明一般都在出色领袖去世以后的几个时代就销声匿迹。 古罗马是这样，古希腊和埃及也是这样。在没有民主的情况下，一个文明只需要一个饿狼就能够把过去所有杰出领袖的功劳功亏一篑。民主不一定选出最好的、最善良的领袖。但，它却能确保破坏性能减至最低点。这就是伟大文明传承与延续的关键。
另外，成立更完善的民主机制还有一个重点。就是言论与思想的自由。大马华社可以大谈要开放固大制（quota system)，其实多少也因为华社了解开放了以后对自身族群有利。如果换作你是弱势族群，你会这么着急要开放吗？不是说我不支持开放，其实我对固大制痛恨极了。然而，多少个马来西亚华人真正勇敢地把这个观点与普罗大众的巫裔同胞讨论过呢？在kopitiam就能把这个课题高谈阔论，但在马来朋友面前却步步为营。实际上，除了少数马来精英分子以外，绝大部分的马来人都不认为他们应该放弃固大制或是他们的特权。而我们从小就被灌输这是敏感课题，不宜多谈。merdeka center 曾经做过一个调查显示，大部分马来人认为现有的不公平，主要不是源于不公平的政策。而几乎90%的华人认为是因为不公平的政策。这个认知的落差是不容忽视的。
要走向民主，不是华社说了算。还要马来人了解我们。我们也要了解他们的困境。惟有确立言论自由，建立沟通的桥梁，多鼓励民族间的对话，我们才能真正步向民主。在这个过程中，难免会有一些激烈的争吵。但这是必要的。而这，才是真正的民主阵痛！
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
logic defying act...无言以对的逻辑判断。。。
这个帖子会很短。因为稍微有点逻辑和智慧的人都已经知道答案。。。
强奸犯应不应该被阉割？
最近马华妇女组主席拿督黄燕燕提出一个惊人的建议，还亏她能这么自豪，把这个建议变成一个研讨会。
如果以牙还牙是法律之道，那么小偷要斩手，偷窥的要盲眼，恐怕马来西亚的残障学会的会员必定会突增！
况且，强奸犯被阉割了就不会以其他形式发泄如性虐待，吸毒，或杀人报复吗？我想啊，那个被阉割了的强奸犯一旦出狱，患上精神病的第一个人将会是那个受害者。想想吧，一个曾经性欲无比强的男人被阉了，他比死 还痛苦，必定找人算账。
凡事不要太尽。把人逼上绝路，只会绝了自己的路。女性的痛苦我们也可以了解，但凡事必须用智慧来解决问题而非感情用事。世界上大部分的问题不是采用极端的手法就能够解决的。
让人有改过自新的机会。通过教育，防范措施，设立闭路电视网络以防范于未然才是办法。有许多罪行，只要有足够的deterring factor，犯罪率自然就会减低。我建议马华妇女组有空时，响应一下拿督黄家定所提倡的终身学习，多阅读有关犯罪学的书才来搞个什么研讨会。
哎，说到这里，我只能为马华唉声叹气。如果，真的给拿督黄燕燕坐上了总会长的位子，我就真的要“切”！
强奸犯应不应该被阉割？
最近马华妇女组主席拿督黄燕燕提出一个惊人的建议，还亏她能这么自豪，把这个建议变成一个研讨会。
如果以牙还牙是法律之道，那么小偷要斩手，偷窥的要盲眼，恐怕马来西亚的残障学会的会员必定会突增！
况且，强奸犯被阉割了就不会以其他形式发泄如性虐待，吸毒，或杀人报复吗？我想啊，那个被阉割了的强奸犯一旦出狱，患上精神病的第一个人将会是那个受害者。想想吧，一个曾经性欲无比强的男人被阉了，他比死 还痛苦，必定找人算账。
凡事不要太尽。把人逼上绝路，只会绝了自己的路。女性的痛苦我们也可以了解，但凡事必须用智慧来解决问题而非感情用事。世界上大部分的问题不是采用极端的手法就能够解决的。
让人有改过自新的机会。通过教育，防范措施，设立闭路电视网络以防范于未然才是办法。有许多罪行，只要有足够的deterring factor，犯罪率自然就会减低。我建议马华妇女组有空时，响应一下拿督黄家定所提倡的终身学习，多阅读有关犯罪学的书才来搞个什么研讨会。
哎，说到这里，我只能为马华唉声叹气。如果，真的给拿督黄燕燕坐上了总会长的位子，我就真的要“切”！
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
what a coincidence...
what a coincidence... two posts back-to-back
one about sodomy the other about riding...
one about sodomy the other about riding...
Anwar and the conspiracy theory...
(warning. content could cause some readers to feel discomfort and therefore parent discretion is adviced)
let's not SPECULATE what we do not know, and try to DEDUCE from what we know.
what we DO NOT KNOW (and perhaps never know) is that whether the sodomy allegation against Anwar is in fact true or not. but what we DO KNOW is this: that gays exist, even in Malaysia.
Let's face the fact, everyone knows that homosexuality could go as far back as stone age. Whether homosexuality should be accepted into our community, that is another topic which I do not wish to dwell upon here. But the fact remains that homosexuality exists, whether you are muslim or not. And because of the requirement of the 'ritual', you're most likely to have performed sodomy acts if you are a homosexual or bisexual. If gay exists, so does sodomy.
Sodomy is an offence. but it happens.
Oral sex is an offence too. but it happens.
Oh yeah, we all know that it happens.
Since it is not exactly an unusual activity, if such illicit acts were agreed by both parties, no one would ever know about it. In fact, both party would have enjoyed it. However, if either party do not agree and therefore was forced into such illicit actions, it would constitute as a rape and the authorities would usually be informed about it. If rape does occur, then, usually there will be marks of struggling (unless he/she was drugged!!)
Now, having established that sodomy, although seemingly an offence in Malaysia, is not really an offence until someone lodges a police report because he/she is unhappy about it. Let's take this one step further to see if Saiful did indeed have a reason to be unhappy.
let's assume that the sodomy did happen. and let's further assume that there is no political motivation behind Saiful's allegation.
Then did Saiful willingly do it?
If yes, why is he complaining now? (Anwar didn't give him 家用 or what?)
Maybe he was using this fact to threaten Anwar for political or monetary purposes? But would he risk his family's and his fiancee's and his own reputation for this?
If he didn't do it willingly, are there marks of struggling?
And most importantly, if Saiful was forced into it, how did the near-70-year-old man overpowered this young man in his 20s? (I do not think Anwar work-out at the gym 4 times a week)
If the sodomy really did take place, I could only see one possiblity - that Anwar somehow, cleverly, tricked him into doing it and he was afraid to reveal it to the pubic (err...i mean public) until now.
But, personally, I find that a bit hard to believe (I meant Anwar tricking him, not the 'public' thing).
If even the last possiblity is not viable, then it means that my assumptions were wrong, i.e. either the sodomy did not happen or that Saiful's allegation was politically motivated, or both.
The point I'm trying to make is this: it doesn't matter whether Anwar is bisexual or not, or whether he did conduct sodomy acts or not. The fact is that this is clearly a political murder. By whom? Not necessarily UMNO. I wouldn't know who. And I definitely do not want to speculate.
let's not SPECULATE what we do not know, and try to DEDUCE from what we know.
what we DO NOT KNOW (and perhaps never know) is that whether the sodomy allegation against Anwar is in fact true or not. but what we DO KNOW is this: that gays exist, even in Malaysia.
Let's face the fact, everyone knows that homosexuality could go as far back as stone age. Whether homosexuality should be accepted into our community, that is another topic which I do not wish to dwell upon here. But the fact remains that homosexuality exists, whether you are muslim or not. And because of the requirement of the 'ritual', you're most likely to have performed sodomy acts if you are a homosexual or bisexual. If gay exists, so does sodomy.
Sodomy is an offence. but it happens.
Oral sex is an offence too. but it happens.
Oh yeah, we all know that it happens.
Since it is not exactly an unusual activity, if such illicit acts were agreed by both parties, no one would ever know about it. In fact, both party would have enjoyed it. However, if either party do not agree and therefore was forced into such illicit actions, it would constitute as a rape and the authorities would usually be informed about it. If rape does occur, then, usually there will be marks of struggling (unless he/she was drugged!!)
Now, having established that sodomy, although seemingly an offence in Malaysia, is not really an offence until someone lodges a police report because he/she is unhappy about it. Let's take this one step further to see if Saiful did indeed have a reason to be unhappy.
let's assume that the sodomy did happen. and let's further assume that there is no political motivation behind Saiful's allegation.
Then did Saiful willingly do it?
If yes, why is he complaining now? (Anwar didn't give him 家用 or what?)
Maybe he was using this fact to threaten Anwar for political or monetary purposes? But would he risk his family's and his fiancee's and his own reputation for this?
If he didn't do it willingly, are there marks of struggling?
And most importantly, if Saiful was forced into it, how did the near-70-year-old man overpowered this young man in his 20s? (I do not think Anwar work-out at the gym 4 times a week)
If the sodomy really did take place, I could only see one possiblity - that Anwar somehow, cleverly, tricked him into doing it and he was afraid to reveal it to the pubic (err...i mean public) until now.
But, personally, I find that a bit hard to believe (I meant Anwar tricking him, not the 'public' thing).
If even the last possiblity is not viable, then it means that my assumptions were wrong, i.e. either the sodomy did not happen or that Saiful's allegation was politically motivated, or both.
The point I'm trying to make is this: it doesn't matter whether Anwar is bisexual or not, or whether he did conduct sodomy acts or not. The fact is that this is clearly a political murder. By whom? Not necessarily UMNO. I wouldn't know who. And I definitely do not want to speculate.
riding with a 7-year old (part 2)
I'm 28.
He's 7.
This time I went further.
I introduced myself as Chin. And him, his name is 'Race'. His home, is just two houses away from mine. This pretty much sums up what it's like to be a budak bandar - 28 years staying on this street and I only know my neighbour's son 3 days ago.
It's great to know that there's always someone riding next to me, guiding me how to ride. Although he's only 7, it was great to have him around. Contrary to what many may think, his presence actually took off a lot of my pressure / embarrassment trying to learn how to ride a bicycle at this age. I'm glad he's around.
Previously, I bruised my right knee. Today, I bruised my left knee. So I guess this kinda struck a balance. Maybe, as a result of this awkward 'balance', I was able to complete my lesson - moving in circles. And at long last, I'm able to tell my friend that I know how to ride a bicycle. Like what they said, "no pain, no gain".
Told you, I ain't giving it up...
And in the process, I met a new friend too. :)
He's 7.
This time I went further.
I introduced myself as Chin. And him, his name is 'Race'. His home, is just two houses away from mine. This pretty much sums up what it's like to be a budak bandar - 28 years staying on this street and I only know my neighbour's son 3 days ago.
It's great to know that there's always someone riding next to me, guiding me how to ride. Although he's only 7, it was great to have him around. Contrary to what many may think, his presence actually took off a lot of my pressure / embarrassment trying to learn how to ride a bicycle at this age. I'm glad he's around.
Previously, I bruised my right knee. Today, I bruised my left knee. So I guess this kinda struck a balance. Maybe, as a result of this awkward 'balance', I was able to complete my lesson - moving in circles. And at long last, I'm able to tell my friend that I know how to ride a bicycle. Like what they said, "no pain, no gain".
Told you, I ain't giving it up...
And in the process, I met a new friend too. :)
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