language
Language is a symbol of power. The popularity of a language is in direct proportion to the power of the native country, for example English vs Afrikaans. Language is all about the history and culture of a group of people, it's not just a means of communication. The study of language and the use of it shows how language can be used to create a world of its own. Remember Matilda? She was cooped up at home all the time, her father Mr. Wormwood insisted she watch TV with the family. But when she picked up a book, the words transported her to a world that no picture on TV could produce.
I always thought that making books into movies spoilt the books for me. Once a face is put to the characters in the book, the image we have created in our minds is destroyed. Children don't even need to imagine, they don't even need to read to get the story. Although I do enjoy reading trashy novels, I still admire those who can illustrate a picture with descriptions, mostly classics writers such as L. M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables series) and Thomas Hardy (Jude the Obscure, Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess of d'Ubervilles among others). People just don't write like that nowadays. They go for adventure, excitement, romance, not vivid images.
Some teachers in Taiwan wanted to scrap the study of ancient Chinese literature in favour of contemporary Taiwanese authors, saying that they would be easier to understand, more practical, and be more relevant to modern Taiwanese experience. Their underlying intention is of course, to distinguish themselves from China. I think it's a pity though. Although I can't claim to have read ancient Chinese literature, I would assume it's of the same high standard as English literature. It can't be beneficial in the long run to cut students off from excellent writing styles, and a link to their cultural roots and history. Then, who would they be but a bunch of wanderers, nomads, with no appreciation of and ties to the past.
Learning a language requires motivation (one of three factors presented in MM's speech). I think this is really a key element. The teachers and the environment can be great, but it all boils down to do we want to learn, or not. Learning Chinese for me has never been an option. It's been a requirement in a do-or-die situation, just memorising the characters, their definitions, and hoping the ones I studied would come out in the exam. The result is, I hate Chinese. And I have no idea what the characters mean, the history behind the characters, the language, and even the festivals that we celebrate. And I don't care. I guess now the government is realising many others of my generation think just like me.
Chinese was supposed to be a mother tongue (MT), in addition to English, in an attempt to make all of us bilingual. This led to the Speak Mandarin campaign and the removal of dialect programs from TV. The reason behind MT was to "keep with our roots and values", but for our parents and the generations before them, their MT was dialect, not Mandarin. Even in China, dialect is used in many parts of the country. The only place where Mandarin is more common is in the north, in areas like Beijing. And even they have a dialect of their own. Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, Hakka.. Where did they all go? Do we really blame youths for not knowing anything about their past? For not being rooted to their country and their culture? What have we given them to be tied to?
Anyway, lastly, here's a pet peeve of mine. Our English is supposed to connect us to the English-speaking world, which makes us valuable in the growing economy of China. However, I think many Singaporeans have a standard of English that is absolutely appalling, so much so that it sounds like a completely different language of it's own. Even the MPs/ mayors are not spared. I heard one of them, Mrs Yu-Foo over the radio the other day, and her English was... I don't know. Let's just say I turned the radio off. Another time, I heard a childhood educator talking about "collars" and "chewren". Ok, repeat after me. It's 'colours' and 'children'. And this woman is educating our hope for the future? Why does the future suddenly look so bleak.
Much as it pains me to admit it, even SLY can't speak properly, he who is on national TV and is worshipped by women and girls alike (even this kan-tang here is mesmerised by his smile), and could very possibly represent us on the international stage. He can't pronounce 'th', so his performances run like "dis". "De" pronounciation is atrocious! Yes, I would very much like a "kees" from him, but really, "dat" is just bad. And what's with all the pseudo-American accents we hear all over? Especially on the ads on radio for the British Council. I mean, if you learn English from the British Council, won't the chances of you speaking with a British accent higher than that of you speaking with an American accent? Well. Whatever. Just please remember, it's children, not chewren.
