Share This

Showing posts with label Pulau Pinang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pulau Pinang. Show all posts

Sunday 3 December 2017

Penang-lang fearing the death of a dialect


Like most Penangites who are proud of their heritage, the writer is troubled that Hokkien isn’t spoken as much as it used to be.

IF there’s one clear feature that separates Penangites from the rest of the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, it is the distinct northern-accented Hokkien.

It doesn’t matter whether we are in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, London or Timbuktu but we can pick up a Penangite whenever we hear this northern style dialect with its rich sprinkling of Malay words that denotes its nyonya-baba linguistic roots.

But each time I return to Penang, I can feel the linguistic changes that are taking place. Whether we realise it or not, Penang Hokkien is slowly disappearing.

Mandarin is quickly taking over this unique Penang Hokkien dialect and for sure, English is also being affected in daily conversations.

Penangites are fiercely proud of their Hokkien as it is entirely different from the one spoken in Singapore, Taiwan or Xiamen in China.

As older Penangites, perhaps we can be a little snooty, as we sometimes dismiss the Hokkien spoken elsewhere as somewhat crass and unrefined.

Only the Hokkien spoken by the Chinese community in Medan closely mirrors that of Penang Hokkien, presumably because of the proximity between Penang and the Indonesian city.

Whether rightly or wrongly, or plainly out of ignorance, Penangites feel the sing-song delivery sounds better.

Words such as balai (police station), balu (just now), bangku (stool), batu (stone), cilaka/celaka (damn it), campur (to mix), jamban (toilet), gatai/gatal (itchy) gili/geli (creepy), sabun (soap) and kesian (pity), are an integral part of the Penang Hokkien dialect.

If the person is not from Penang, then he or she has to be from Kedah, Perlis or Taiping.

Even Penangites of other racial groups can easily speak, or at least understand Hokkien. My fellow moderation advocate, Anas Zubedy, speaks excellent Hokkien. So do my colleagues executive editor Dorairaj Nadason and sports editor R. Manogaran.

But the daily use of the dialect is rapidly being replaced by Mandarin. Go to most coffeeshops today and the hawkers or helpers are likely to tell you the price of food in Mandarin.

I am feeling a little uncomfortable because I am a very parochial and sentimental Penangite. It doesn’t help that I do not speak Mandarin.

Although I am a Cantonese, Hokkien is the spoken language in my family home and the changes that are taking place do have an effect.

Even most of the Penang state government leaders are not from Penang. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was born in Johor and grew up in Melaka.

Senior state exco member Chow Kon Yeow is from Kuala Lumpur but he studied in Universiti Sains Malaysia. Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy is Sitiawan-born but he spent most of his time in Selangor.

Exceptions are the children of the late Karpal Singh – state exco member Jagdeep Singh Deo and Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh Deo – and other state assemblymen.

The Penang Monthly bulletin, in its May issue, dramatically headlined the situation “Penang Hokkien on life support.”

In an interview with Penang Monthly, the Penang Hokkien Language Association secretary Ooi Kee How was quoted as saying that “people think there’s no benefit in learning or speaking Hokkien, which is not true. Yes, you can survive if you do not speak Hokkien; you can get by with speaking only one language your entire life.”

“But the thing is, something will diminish. Our creativity, our cultural identity, will decline. A lot of innovations will disappear, because different languages shape the way we think differently.”

And what has brought about the decline of the Penang Hokkien? It’s a combination of factors. For one, a whole generation of Penangites have been educated in Chinese schools, at least at the primary level.

This is unlike the older generation of Penangites like me, who are now in the 50s, who attended schools using English as a medium of instruction. In the absence of Mandarin, we spoke mainly Hokkien and English but people in their 30s and 40s find it more comfortable conversing in Mandarin – and for sure, not English.

Then there is this huge impact of Chinese TV shows, especially over Astro. They are entirely in Mandarin, with shows from mainland China and Taiwan, and in Hokkien, which is spoken in a manner more similar to those used in Melaka and Johor.

It is no surprise that the sales staff at malls also expect the Chinese community to speak in Mandarin, and understandably they will begin the conversation in Mandarin – because you are expected to know the language.

There is also the impact of China as the new economic powerhouse of Asia, if not, the world. Mandarin has taken over the dominant spot as a language with economic value, and certainly prestige. That is the reality but it may well be at the expense of a rich heritage. Catherine Churchman, a lecturer in Asian Studies, in the School of Languages and Cultures in Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, who studied the Taiwanese and Penang Hokkien dialects, reportedly said: “Penangites have become increasingly used to hearing Taiwanese Hokkien, but the Taiwanese are not used to hearing Penang Hokkien.

“Simply replacing Malay loan words with the Taiwanese equivalents does not turn Penang Hokkien into Taiwanese Hokkien either. The grammatical structure of Penang Hokkien is different.”

Fearful of the danger of Penang Hokkien dying, Penang Monthly further quoted Churchman as saying “languages often die the same way, and one of the reasons is simply the existence of a generation gap.”

That melodious Penang Hokkien may not be heard, decades from now, if this frightening trend continues.

On The Beat by Wong Chun Wai

Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 27 years in various capacities and roles. He is now the group's managing director/chief executive officer and formerly the group chief editor.

On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.

Related posts:

For the love of Datuk titles 

Money games, Earn money nothing can replace the old-fashioned hard-work, honesty; learn Jack Ma's way

Wanted: Leaders who listen !

What concerns Malaysians most ? 

Mind your words, please! 

Mereka Rasuah Kita Bayar! 3J drive: Jangan Kawtim, Jangan Hulur, Jangan Settle!

Another government department, seriously? Beef up the existing enforcement agencies !

Thursday 12 January 2012

Trees pruning must be with loving care! Where are the experts?


Philippine President Benigno Aquino III arranges the microphone before he delivers his State of the Nation Address during the 15th congress at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines on Monday July 25, 2011.
Orchids Exhibition, Shah Alam Orchid Club, Shah Alam, Malaysia.India  at Ooty Botanical Garden in South India Pruning and landscaping the garden - nature Regent's Park London England UK.... A houseplant in a home - garden A Christmas tree for festive season Christmas - nature Christmas tree leaf - nature - environment White hibiscus flower plant in the garden - nature

Long leaves of Christmas Tree in a garden

Be more refined in pruning trees


WITH reference to “‘Tree killers’ at work in Penang” (The Star, Jan 10), I support fully the call to local authorities to be more sensitive and refined in their pruning techniques.

Whoever the contractors were, it should be obvious by the sight of their boorish handiwork how much they know about botany or care about the trees unfortunate enough to be marked out for their chainsaw massacre.

It is heart-wrenching to see lush, green trees that have taken so many years to grow – and which are so vital to our environment – turned into wretched mutilated stumps overnight.

In all the pruning work I’ve seen in the city, never have I seen anyone approaching a “professional” supervising the work.

Don’t the local authorities, whether MPPP or JKR, have any one suitably qualified? Can’t they ask the Botanic Gardens for help? Or would anyone with a crane and a chainsaw suffice?

CH’NG HAN WEI,
Batu Feringghi, Penang, The Star



Treat our trees with loving care

AS a resident of Penang, I was so happy to read StarMetro North front-page story ‘Tree Torture’ on Tuesday.

That story highlighted the hacking of trees by a private contractor and the lack of supervision over such an important project which has far reaching implications.

The majority of visitors to Penang come here not to look at new concrete housing and highrises.

They want to enjoy the traditional architecture, the food and the scenery which includes the beautiful trees that line our streets.

Now, these trees — which are one of the most important elements that set Penang apart from other cities — are fast disappearing.

The increasing destruction of trees is evident almost every day.

Many businessmen are now destroying trees illegally to make way for advertising signs which are eyesores. This is such an oversight.

Destroy the trees and you destroy the heritage and birthright of future generations to enjoy.

As trees vanish, I guarantee, so will the tourists to Penang.

LEWIS, Penang.The Star 


Friday January 13, 2012, The Star

Where are the experts? 

It’s a bad job, says writer


ALLOW me to comment on StarMetro North story ‘One hack of a job’ which appeared on Tuesday.

State exco member Lim Hock Seng, who is chairman of Public Works, Utilities and Transport, said in his reply that the contractor ‘did not do pruning often so it was not practical to just trim a bit’.

To me, this is a silly and unacceptable explanation. It means it is acceptable practice by a contractor to do massive cutting of tree branches even to the extent of them becoming ‘bald.’ No wonder this has been practised by the Public Works Department and Penang Muni-cipal Council (MPPP.)

On MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail’s statement in the second story titled ‘Tree pruning necessary’ on Wednesday that the council sought advice from experts before executing pruning projects, I am sorry I don’t think so.

From my observations when council workers carry out massive cutting or pollarding of roadside trees, the huge branches cut down are still healthy.

There are no ‘so-called’ experts around to give advice, just manual workers doing the job cutting at their pleasure.

Branches are left by the roadside or pavement for a day to three sometimes, before being removed forcing pedestrians to walk on busy roads, thus endangering themselves.

Maybe, this is in keeping Penang green and clean. I have brought (this issue) to Patahiyah’s attention by e-mail. She directed her landscape officer to reply with a silly explanation.

I have also forwarded pictures at Edgecumbe Road, Pulau Tikus, taken on July 1 last year, to Patahiyah. Note the massive cutting on July 20 last year as well as the bald tree in the latest picture taken on Wednesday. This tree is now dead.

Is this advice from experts? What a disappointment from the statements of both parties.

AB YEE, Penang