Govind’s graduate view on 4 years in Malaysia…
By the end of September 2017, I will have completed my fourth year on the Island of Sarawak in Malaysia. My four years in the capital city of the state and travelling in and around Malaysia has made me realize why learning the various spoken languages in Malaysia has been way too much fun for ‘serious’ language lovers.
Here are the four languages to avoid if you prefer to sweat and suffer when you learn a language.
1. Malay
Learning to speak Malay (or Bahasa Melayu/Malaysia) is way too easy. Why would anyone want to learn a language that is as easy as Malay? Malay has no conjugations, no plurals, no gender and no verb tenses. Surely learning a language must require years and years of practice, in-depth study of grammar and only then, should one be fluent in that particular language!
I picked up the basics of Malay in less than 6 months and I was able to communicate easily with the locals. The fact that neighboring nations of Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei speak a very similar language reduced the hassle of having to find alternative ways to communicate while traveling and gives one way too much spare time. Why learn one language that can serve you well in at least three countries? just because it is easy and practical!
After all, there are only 230 million speakers of this language in all of South East Asia. Avoid this lingo if you don’t want to pick up a new language that is easy and fun to use.
2. Chinese
In Malaysia, Chinese is second only to Malay as a spoken language. The majority of Chinese speakers use Mandarin but there are speakers of other dialects such as Cantonese, Teo-chew, Hakka, Hainanese, Hok-chew, and Hokkien. Why learn Chinese then? If you have mastered Bahsa Melayu, Chinese is definitely going to be a challenge. Of course, some might say it’s a challenge worth trying, considering one-fifth of the planet speaks Chinese and nations around the globe speak Mandarin Chinese.
Being the second-largest economy in the world, knowing Chinese might be an advantage to businessmen and industrialists. Another reason is the challenge of bargaining with vendors from China.
However, if you don’t love the thrill of bargaining and getting significant discounts for the next item you purchase, and you’re not into really useful languages, then again, avoid this one!
3. Tamil
Tamil was introduced in Malaysia by traders and prisoners who were exiled to Malaysia during the British colonial rule in India. Tamil is the third most popular language in Malaysia and the most popular amongst Indian languages in Malaysia, plus popular in countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore and southern parts of India. There are Tamil speakers concentrated in various parts of Australia, the Americas, and Europe.
Learning Tamil opens the gates to loads of rich culture, history, and art. From songs produced by Oscar-winning artists to ancient scriptures and folklore, Tamil might seem like an attractive language to know for many. If you don’t fancy being able to boast about learning one of the oldest literary languages in the world, then give this a miss too.
4. Tribal Tongues
In East Malaysia, the states of Sarawak and Sabah situated on the island of Borneo have various tribes that actively practice the tribal tongue such as Iban and Kadzan. Knowing these tongues will only let the speaker communicate with tribes that are completely disconnected from the outside world.
Unless tales of warriors and tribal culture move you, and you don’t want to learn about how their inspirational way of life is surviving without modern technology and facilities in the dense jungles of Borneo, then it’s fine to stick with your own language.
CONCLUSION:
Hang on a minute. Was I able to convince you that learning the languages of Malaysia is a waste of time?
No, I didn’t think so.
So next time you plan a trip to Malaysia, I hope you too dive into one of these truly moving languages that I had way too much fun learning.
Govind Nair
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