BANANAism......
WARNING :This article might contain INFLAMMATORY remarks about a discerning ''fruit'''. Whilst the author believes that it is unlikely to trigger an enmity against ''banana'', he shall NOT be liable in any way should the unexpected happens.......:)
why do i use the word ''plagued''?? u see, whilst ENG cannot be disputed to be the fundamental interactional tool, we have simply gone overboard by making it THE ONE AND ONLY language to master.....having said that, it's not strange to note that many chinese nowadays no longer know the chinese language....worse still, some of them *^ notably the Anglophiles^* who have mastered the English Language, exploit every single opportunity to showcase to the others their prowess in it and even unashamedly proclaim to the others that they can't even write their own names in chinese.....:0
the underlying question is...come on...are u really proud of it??
let's take a look at the following examples :
************************************************************************************
Case Study 1 : an American who doesn't know english -------------->>>
u are lost on a street in washington .... walking towards u is an American and u try to seek help from him....but much to your chagrin and surprise, he answers u like this:
"我虽是鬼佬, 却不会英语, 只会华语, 然而, 请别排挤我, 我不是大便........."
Case Study 2 : a chinese who doesn't know chinese --------------->>>
an american ,who has learnt chinese language for 21 years, bumps into a chinese pedestrian on a street ..... the ang mo is lost and he needs help...so with bursting confidence, he asks for direction in his fluent chinese, expecting to impress the chinese guy with his dazzling command of the language....however, the chinese answers:
''yo yo yo man...slow slow......what the hell are u talking man.....i dun speak chinese man...yo yo yo ....check it out ...i am banana la..... so tok english la...k?? k??..."
************************************************************************************
In case study 1, if we look from the perspective of the chinese guy, i'm sure it's pretty surprising to note that the ANGMO doesn't know english at all .......similarly in case study 2, the ANGMO should be quite overwhelmed too by the fact that the chinese guy doesn't speak chinese, shouldn't he??
coming to europe has reinforced my view on this matter....u can sense the impression that's emanated when ppl suddenly realise that though u r a chinese, u dun know chinese at all.......
one may argue that this might be inevitable with the thrust of globalisation...but my view is..if globalisation is to be attached to every single facet of our lives, then chances are it will be quoted out of its original text and we'll lose our identity in the process as well.....
u are lost on a street in washington .... walking towards u is an American and u try to seek help from him....but much to your chagrin and surprise, he answers u like this:
"我虽是鬼佬, 却不会英语, 只会华语, 然而, 请别排挤我, 我不是大便........."
Case Study 2 : a chinese who doesn't know chinese --------------->>>
an american ,who has learnt chinese language for 21 years, bumps into a chinese pedestrian on a street ..... the ang mo is lost and he needs help...so with bursting confidence, he asks for direction in his fluent chinese, expecting to impress the chinese guy with his dazzling command of the language....however, the chinese answers:
''yo yo yo man...slow slow......what the hell are u talking man.....i dun speak chinese man...yo yo yo ....check it out ...i am banana la..... so tok english la...k?? k??..."
************************************************************************************
In case study 1, if we look from the perspective of the chinese guy, i'm sure it's pretty surprising to note that the ANGMO doesn't know english at all .......similarly in case study 2, the ANGMO should be quite overwhelmed too by the fact that the chinese guy doesn't speak chinese, shouldn't he??
coming to europe has reinforced my view on this matter....u can sense the impression that's emanated when ppl suddenly realise that though u r a chinese, u dun know chinese at all.......
one may argue that this might be inevitable with the thrust of globalisation...but my view is..if globalisation is to be attached to every single facet of our lives, then chances are it will be quoted out of its original text and we'll lose our identity in the process as well.....
thus, i believe that it's actually a natural responsibility for us to perpetuate our mother tongue to the next generation.....but first, we need to permeate the mind with the correct concept....my bottom line is.. a chinese should at least know the language and it does not necessarily interfere with one's nationality.....
i'm a malaysian, to be precise a malaysian chinese and i'll never, ever denied that fact...
if there's a football match btw china and mas , i would by all means support the mas team to the very end, albeit the fact that mas team will 100% be defeated ,most probably by a catastrophic scoreline...
but that does not mean i'm wavering from my above-mentioned pursuit...no..not at all......all i'm trying to say is...my above-mentioned ''natural responsibility'' cannot be juxtaposed to the reference of one's patriotism and nationality.....
all in all, my bottom line is ..chinese should at least know the language.......so ladies and gentlemen, guys and girls....make babies but never groom them into bananas...for we have had our fair share of experience with it.....hahahahahha.....
posted by Teong Hee at 11:42 PM
3 Comments:
YES! Your article reflects a terrible truth that has been plagueing chinese communities around the world for such a long time!!! It's absolutely true! Even though it's such a sad trend, it's something that should have been corrected a long time ago.....I agree that we should raise our children to NEVER be like this!!!
ALL chinese must never feel inadequate if they can't speak, read or write their 'mother tongue'. All us non-chinese speakers must rise against the sad tide of arrogance and apathy of chinese speakers who for strange and unfathomable reasons can't accept that we have the freedom to NOT learn or understand a language that doesn't play any role in our lives. This sad truth is highlighted by the author of this article, whose narrow point of view is shared by a vast percentage of society. This outdated perception should have been rectified a long, long time ago.
We should instill in the future generations the ability to understand that despite mankind's advances, they must always learn to accept and tolerate that such backward and limited ways of thinking will always exist.
kok keong...use ur name lah instead of the so-called ''amusing response''.....
well...just another easily predictable piece of response from a real and genuine BANANA who fits in perfectly to the description of this article.....:p
hahaha...i sense war...*claps hand in glee*
anyway, i too, think that a chinese should be able to speak chinese. but SHOULD doesnt directly translate into COULD. coz these things depends on our upbringing too. i dont look down nor do i think any less of bananas, if it was their family background that kept them from learning this beautiful language. (you cant choose your parents, eh?) but i DO despise bananas who are given the chance to learn this language, but threw it away in the name of 'no time', 'not interested', or 'none of my english speaking friends are in the same chinese tuition class as me.' . and worse still, takes pride in being so. dont talk to me about respecting other people's culture, when you cant even respect your own. language is an essential part of a culture. whether you like it or not, thats a fact.
but i guess the author wouldnt have brought up this topic if he was a banana himself. ;) so be grateful that you're not on the receiving end of such articles.
i know i am. :)
YL
Post a Comment
<< Home