Speaking In Tongues In Malaysia
Ho, ho, ho!
There is this well written article, the link which I gladly give down below,
It is a most beautifully written anecdote of a traveler's tale for well it showed...
A funny side of Malaysia as a nation of varied races and different languages ..
When the writer, a genuine Malaysian, hit the local travel scene in stages...
First on target was a tailor shop nestled in some obscure corner of a major town..
With its ancient facade fronted with antiqued sewing machines and 2 old men...
The writer was awed and very much wanted an opportunistic shot for preservation..
But was left frustrated and flabbergasted, duly chastised and denied a flat refusal..
Being a polite and considerate Malaysian, the writer had requested permission....
In plain English, widely spoken and used in a bustling town, modern as seemed..
The elderly Chinaman tailor, amazingly, he felt rather biffed, he felt insulted..
How else do you explain his snappiness, his curt refusal of "Tidak boleh!"...
After he had pointedly retorted, "You tak tau cakap bahasa ka?” to the writer..
Driving home the pervasive use of Bahasa Malaysia to our writer...
Even the old uncle in a antiquated shop prefers speaking that language...
We Malaysians have come a long way to trust the unifying merit of a national language..
Lesson this day was to trust in the wide spread use of our national language..
The next day, the writer strolled into an Indian restaurant for something spicy...
Proudly articulated in immaculate Bahasa Malaysia, the food fancied...
Only to be admonished by the Indian in attendance, why not the native dialect...
Seeing how the writer is a local Indian, a fellow countryman in skin and color...
Again, a most valuable lesson, use use native language with people of the same ethnicity..
Bahasa Malaysia would be best with fellow Malaysians of a different ethnicity...
But our enlightened writer was perplexed and befuddled to the ninth degree..
For it was chronicled in verbatim the running conversation at the hotel he was in...
The writer diligently posted questions and remarks in Bahasa Malaysia...
But the polite hotel receptionist, a local Malay, was speaking English all the way...
Final lesson for any local Malaysian, it may be wiser to let the other start lead the conversation.
That way, you can have a smooth running conversation, and you'll be a true Malaysian!
Ho, ho, ho! Malaysia Boleh !
http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.my/2015/11/you-tak-tau-cakap-bahasa-ka.html
Copyright © Keng Chuan Seng | Year Posted 2015
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment