Language
Since I have been trying to be fluent in the three languages of English, Chinese and Malay in the past few months, I realised that the way I think and perceive things might have changed. It is very interesting because it is in light of another language that I see the idiosyncrasies of a particular one. Haha I am also trying to revise Bahasa Melayu while distracting myself from thesis for awhile.
Language does shape thinking, even one's identity. It breaks my heart everytime I remember that in Japanese, there is no word for that unconditional, agape love. Can one appreciate fully what he cannot put a word to? Reminded of the book 1984, where Newspeak was used to suppress individualism, and also the movie The Giver where 'precise language' was demanded and emotional language suppressed.
Have been learning more about Malay culture (budaya Melayu) through pantun (Malay poetry) and peribahasa. But it is the words that amaze me sometimes:
merendah diri- literal translation is to bow yourself down: to be humble
amal- basic meaning is practice/deed, but kerja amal= charity work: positive bias of budaya Melayu in action
Then the pantun, an artistic form that embodies the cultural value of being indirect and gentle in expression:
Sangkanya lumbang hilang di taman,
Selesai hujan senja muncul lagi,
Yakinlah dengan anugerah Tuhan,
Yang lebih sesuai akan datang nanti.
I'm smiling as I type this because this was written to reject a suitor (Cikgu really likes to do this kind of BGR stuff in class, perhaps because he's single).
So wonderful that we came up with such a beautiful pantun on hope in class together like that:
Bertahun lamanya benih berbunga,
Wangi berkembang di bawah bulan,
Harapan tinggi menjadi tenaga,
Akhirnya bercahaya di hujung jalan.
The structure of having a foreshadow before the message in the last 2 lines of the stanza necessitates attention to the surrounding (often nature), and a kind of metaphorical thinking.
I feel like I can say less about Chinese, because I have been taught the language with the language itself. But I am constantly struck by how much punch/meaning can be packed into a few words: 误人子弟，爱屋及乌, 化腐朽为神奇. The stories behind the idioms reveal a lot about Chinese culture too.
Favorite Chinese poem (also one of the few I know):
Language does shape thinking, even one's identity. It breaks my heart everytime I remember that in Japanese, there is no word for that unconditional, agape love. Can one appreciate fully what he cannot put a word to? Reminded of the book 1984, where Newspeak was used to suppress individualism, and also the movie The Giver where 'precise language' was demanded and emotional language suppressed.
Have been learning more about Malay culture (budaya Melayu) through pantun (Malay poetry) and peribahasa. But it is the words that amaze me sometimes:
merendah diri- literal translation is to bow yourself down: to be humble
amal- basic meaning is practice/deed, but kerja amal= charity work: positive bias of budaya Melayu in action
Then the pantun, an artistic form that embodies the cultural value of being indirect and gentle in expression:
Sangkanya lumbang hilang di taman,
Selesai hujan senja muncul lagi,
Yakinlah dengan anugerah Tuhan,
Yang lebih sesuai akan datang nanti.
I'm smiling as I type this because this was written to reject a suitor (Cikgu really likes to do this kind of BGR stuff in class, perhaps because he's single).
So wonderful that we came up with such a beautiful pantun on hope in class together like that:
Bertahun lamanya benih berbunga,
Wangi berkembang di bawah bulan,
Harapan tinggi menjadi tenaga,
Akhirnya bercahaya di hujung jalan.
The structure of having a foreshadow before the message in the last 2 lines of the stanza necessitates attention to the surrounding (often nature), and a kind of metaphorical thinking.
I feel like I can say less about Chinese, because I have been taught the language with the language itself. But I am constantly struck by how much punch/meaning can be packed into a few words: 误人子弟，爱屋及乌, 化腐朽为神奇. The stories behind the idioms reveal a lot about Chinese culture too.
Favorite Chinese poem (also one of the few I know):
再别康桥 （徐志摩）
轻轻的我走了，
正如我轻轻的来；
我轻轻的招手，
作别西天的云彩。
那河畔的金柳，
是夕阳中的新娘；
波光里的艳影，
在我的心头荡漾。
软泥上的青荇，
油油的在水底招摇；
在康河的柔波里，
我甘心做一条水草！
那榆荫下的一潭，
不是清泉，
是天上虹；
揉碎在浮藻间，
沉淀着彩虹似的梦。
寻梦？撑一支长篙，
向青草更青处漫溯；
满载一船星辉，
在星辉斑斓里放歌。
但我不能放歌，
悄悄是别离的笙箫；
夏虫也为我沉默，
沉默是今晚的康桥！
悄悄的我走了，
正如我悄悄的来；
我挥一挥衣袖，
不带走一片云彩。
轻轻的我走了，
正如我轻轻的来；
我轻轻的招手，
作别西天的云彩。
那河畔的金柳，
是夕阳中的新娘；
波光里的艳影，
在我的心头荡漾。
软泥上的青荇，
油油的在水底招摇；
在康河的柔波里，
我甘心做一条水草！
那榆荫下的一潭，
不是清泉，
是天上虹；
揉碎在浮藻间，
沉淀着彩虹似的梦。
寻梦？撑一支长篙，
向青草更青处漫溯；
满载一船星辉，
在星辉斑斓里放歌。
但我不能放歌，
悄悄是别离的笙箫；
夏虫也为我沉默，
沉默是今晚的康桥！
悄悄的我走了，
正如我悄悄的来；
我挥一挥衣袖，
不带走一片云彩。
Sometimes I feel like, even if I don't get a good grade for thesis, I have learnt so much this semester. From the thesis process as well- indeed a spiritual journey. For one, it's teaching me to be comfortable with more uncertainty than I've been able to handle.
Praise the LORD for these good gifts on earth.
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