murder most foul! our English Language

Please click the above to read it.

I have written a posting in Bahasa Malaysia regarding the above. I said this is another result of our misplaced priority in our education policy. Our xenophobic fear of learning the English Language finally translates itself into the butchering of the language.

One thing that we are proud of is the standard of the English language in this country. Both spoken and written. Despite the vehement objections of Malay-language-first nationalists, the standard of the English language is still all right.

Where it has really declined is perhaps among Malay students. That is most unfortunate. It denies them wider marketability. They lose out when searching for jobs in the private sector.

But that is alright yes? The government has many GLCs. It controls the economy. Perhaps, as a last resort they can join Universiti Tun Hussein Onn. Or they can always find employment among the 1.4 million civil servants in this country.

But before we rush headlong denouncing this as another effect of our education system, think again. The standard of the English language appears alright among urban Malays. They speak and write good English. Among the non Malays, the standard of written and spoken English is still good.

Therefore perhaps, the poor English exemplified by the poorly written advertorial, actually points to the effects of social economic disparities. The writer may in fact come from rural Malaysia. It only serves to show the socio economic disparities have taken its toll. In this particular case, in the command of English Language of the poor and unfortunate soul who authored the advertorial.

And perhaps rather than rushing to accuse the government of messing up the education system, we could do better by accepting the poor English of the poor soul may be the result of his/her own personal slothfulness. There are students from rural areas with good command of English.

Other than the above, it simply indicates to me, poor work ethics at the place she is working. I am pretty sure, if one were to go to his/her workplace, a plaque bearing an ISO certification is proudly displayed for all to see. It is a common sight in government offices- to show the ISO certification that in turn shows their hunger for recognition.

He or she must have a supervisor. Perhaps there is an editor at the paper. Hmm. Don’t tell me, the editor’s standard of English, is just like the author of the advertorial?

But then Lim Kit Siang would not want to waste any chance he can get to wallop the government, would he?