i am on this forum long ago... i just never post anything here... i am a frequent visitor to chinese.car.com.my . now i would like to tell u that i hv also posted a mail to the star.
i am a teochew, i just think that Niuc can also help other dialect group to retain their culture rather than only hokkien...
my fren and i is starting to do something on internet to "enlighten" the ppl to treasure their dialects. we wish to go out from this virtual internet world to hv some campaigns.
we still get strong objection from society with this idea... i hope u can lend us a helping hand in this campaign. drop me a line if u r interested.
below is the mail i sent to the star:
We can see after a few decades of suppression on Hokkien and Hakka dialects in Taiwan, the government has taken some positive actions to revive the languages. Dialects are being taught in primary school to teach their kids to speak their mother tongue. Singapore, too, has also loosened its policy of phasing out dialects in their Chinese community.
It can be seen from the reaction of the government allowing dialect advertisements on SARS Channel and dialect movies shown on cable TV channel in Singapore. It is quite sarcastic for us to hear that our government is picking up those policies which have been forsaken by other governments.
I agree that our government is taking action to reduce Cantonese movies airtime with the condition that it should air more Hokkien, Hakka and Teochew dialect movies, as Hokkien and Hakka are the first and second largest dialect groups respectively in Malaysia. I strongly support Mandarin to be the common language for different Chinese dialect group to communicate. But the increasing "value" of Mandarin is not the reason for the government to kill all Chinese dialects in Malaysia.
Many people are starting to realize that Mandarin is actually not the mother tongue of Malaysian Chinese. This is because Mandarin is actually the dialect of Beijing as there is nearly 0% of the Chinese in Malaysia with their ancestors originated from Beijing.
I think the government should take some action to control the overwhelming Cantonese programs in private TV and radio too. Some other dialects should be heard on those media too. In order to respect different dialect groups, Mandarin should be the major language, while dialects programs should also be aired with Chinese subtitles.
While seeing Cantonese Clan Association is objecting the implementation of the policy, Hokkien and other dialect group's associations should voice their opinions rather than remaining silent, for the sake of survival of their dialects.
Retaining Hokkien Language
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wei
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
i am on this forum long ago... i just never post anything here... i am a frequent visitor to chinese.car.com.my . now i would like to tell u that i hv also posted a mail to the star.
i am a teochew, i just think that Niuc can also help other dialect group to retain their culture rather than only hokkien...
my fren and i is starting to do something on internet to "enlighten" the ppl to treasure their dialects. we wish to go out from this virtual internet world to hv some campaigns.
we still get strong objection from society with this idea... i hope u can lend us a helping hand in this campaign. drop me a line if u r interested.
below is the mail i sent to the star:
We can see after a few decades of suppression on Hokkien and Hakka dialects in Taiwan, the government has taken some positive actions to revive the languages. Dialects are being taught in primary school to teach their kids to speak their mother tongue. Singapore, too, has also loosened its policy of phasing out dialects in their Chinese community.
It can be seen from the reaction of the government allowing dialect advertisements on SARS Channel and dialect movies shown on cable TV channel in Singapore. It is quite sarcastic for us to hear that our government is picking up those policies which have been forsaken by other governments.
I agree that our government is taking action to reduce Cantonese movies airtime with the condition that it should air more Hokkien, Hakka and Teochew dialect movies, as Hokkien and Hakka are the first and second largest dialect groups respectively in Malaysia. I strongly support Mandarin to be the common language for different Chinese dialect group to communicate. But the increasing "value" of Mandarin is not the reason for the government to kill all Chinese dialects in Malaysia.
Many people are starting to realize that Mandarin is actually not the mother tongue of Malaysian Chinese. This is because Mandarin is actually the dialect of Beijing as there is nearly 0% of the Chinese in Malaysia with their ancestors originated from Beijing.
I think the government should take some action to control the overwhelming Cantonese programs in private TV and radio too. Some other dialects should be heard on those media too. In order to respect different dialect groups, Mandarin should be the major language, while dialects programs should also be aired with Chinese subtitles.
While seeing Cantonese Clan Association is objecting the implementation of the policy, Hokkien and other dialect group's associations should voice their opinions rather than remaining silent, for the sake of survival of their dialects.
i am a teochew, i just think that Niuc can also help other dialect group to retain their culture rather than only hokkien...
my fren and i is starting to do something on internet to "enlighten" the ppl to treasure their dialects. we wish to go out from this virtual internet world to hv some campaigns.
we still get strong objection from society with this idea... i hope u can lend us a helping hand in this campaign. drop me a line if u r interested.
below is the mail i sent to the star:
We can see after a few decades of suppression on Hokkien and Hakka dialects in Taiwan, the government has taken some positive actions to revive the languages. Dialects are being taught in primary school to teach their kids to speak their mother tongue. Singapore, too, has also loosened its policy of phasing out dialects in their Chinese community.
It can be seen from the reaction of the government allowing dialect advertisements on SARS Channel and dialect movies shown on cable TV channel in Singapore. It is quite sarcastic for us to hear that our government is picking up those policies which have been forsaken by other governments.
I agree that our government is taking action to reduce Cantonese movies airtime with the condition that it should air more Hokkien, Hakka and Teochew dialect movies, as Hokkien and Hakka are the first and second largest dialect groups respectively in Malaysia. I strongly support Mandarin to be the common language for different Chinese dialect group to communicate. But the increasing "value" of Mandarin is not the reason for the government to kill all Chinese dialects in Malaysia.
Many people are starting to realize that Mandarin is actually not the mother tongue of Malaysian Chinese. This is because Mandarin is actually the dialect of Beijing as there is nearly 0% of the Chinese in Malaysia with their ancestors originated from Beijing.
I think the government should take some action to control the overwhelming Cantonese programs in private TV and radio too. Some other dialects should be heard on those media too. In order to respect different dialect groups, Mandarin should be the major language, while dialects programs should also be aired with Chinese subtitles.
While seeing Cantonese Clan Association is objecting the implementation of the policy, Hokkien and other dialect group's associations should voice their opinions rather than remaining silent, for the sake of survival of their dialects.
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Niuc
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Wei,
I'm really glad that you have written to the editor. Hopefully the result will be good.
Regarding preserving all dialects/languages, I agree with you. Yet I am only a commoner, don't know what can I do to help you.
Actually Teochew people are more united and persistent in preserving Teochew language & culture. Here is a good site for preserving Teochew culture: http://www.gaginang.org/ . Hopefully there will be comprehensive Hokkien sites like this.
[%sig%]
I'm really glad that you have written to the editor. Hopefully the result will be good.
Regarding preserving all dialects/languages, I agree with you. Yet I am only a commoner, don't know what can I do to help you.
Actually Teochew people are more united and persistent in preserving Teochew language & culture. Here is a good site for preserving Teochew culture: http://www.gaginang.org/ . Hopefully there will be comprehensive Hokkien sites like this.
[%sig%]
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yeobh
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Niuc,
Thanks for posting my mail in the forum http://chinese.cari.com.my/forum.
To Kaiah, thanks for posting it for me in Chinese.
For your info, according to press report today the Deputy Information Minister of Malaysia stated that the government will stick to its policy of using Mandarin in its Chinese programmes over TV2 but would consider the viability of including bilingual broadcast to allow the choice of viewers particularly the Cantonese to watch the programmes in their own dialect. Allowing bilingual broadcast will defeat the purpose of having such a policy of promoting the use of Mandarin in the first place. But why the privilege of allowing the choice in Cantonese? What about the other Chinese dialects particulary the the dialect of Hokkiens who constitute the majority of the Malaysian Chinese population? If Cantonese is also allowed as a choice, it is only fair that the choice of the majority Hokkien dialect should also be allowed for some of the Chinese programmes particularly the Taiwanese serials which are originally in the Hokkien dialect.
According to the Deputy Information Minister, the reason for considering the bilingual option is because many viewers including the Cantonese-based Associations have written in to voice their opposition against RTM's recent proposal to dub all Cantonese shows into Mandarin and wanted the Cantonese shows to be maintained. I believe the opposing views published in the newspapers do not relect the majority views because many have written in to voice their support for the dubbing or request for the screening of Hokkien shows if Cantonese shows are also allowed but unfortunately their letters are to a large extent not published. I think there is some form of press manipulation by those in position of authority in Kuala Lumpur where Cantonese predominates. Therefore, I urge all those who are frustrated by the conspiracy of the press to email directly to the Deputy Information Minister (donaldlim@kempen.gov.my).
Thanks for posting my mail in the forum http://chinese.cari.com.my/forum.
To Kaiah, thanks for posting it for me in Chinese.
For your info, according to press report today the Deputy Information Minister of Malaysia stated that the government will stick to its policy of using Mandarin in its Chinese programmes over TV2 but would consider the viability of including bilingual broadcast to allow the choice of viewers particularly the Cantonese to watch the programmes in their own dialect. Allowing bilingual broadcast will defeat the purpose of having such a policy of promoting the use of Mandarin in the first place. But why the privilege of allowing the choice in Cantonese? What about the other Chinese dialects particulary the the dialect of Hokkiens who constitute the majority of the Malaysian Chinese population? If Cantonese is also allowed as a choice, it is only fair that the choice of the majority Hokkien dialect should also be allowed for some of the Chinese programmes particularly the Taiwanese serials which are originally in the Hokkien dialect.
According to the Deputy Information Minister, the reason for considering the bilingual option is because many viewers including the Cantonese-based Associations have written in to voice their opposition against RTM's recent proposal to dub all Cantonese shows into Mandarin and wanted the Cantonese shows to be maintained. I believe the opposing views published in the newspapers do not relect the majority views because many have written in to voice their support for the dubbing or request for the screening of Hokkien shows if Cantonese shows are also allowed but unfortunately their letters are to a large extent not published. I think there is some form of press manipulation by those in position of authority in Kuala Lumpur where Cantonese predominates. Therefore, I urge all those who are frustrated by the conspiracy of the press to email directly to the Deputy Information Minister (donaldlim@kempen.gov.my).
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wei
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
er... i think he did mention "other dialects" too... i think he means hokkien and hakka where TV station can easily get the programs from taiwan...
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Niuc
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Yeo, thanks for the updated info. Wei has forwarded the info to that forum.
Wei, do you mean that Deputy Information Minister mentioned "other dialects" too?
[%sig%]
Wei, do you mean that Deputy Information Minister mentioned "other dialects" too?
[%sig%]
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yeobh
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Thanks to Wei and Niuc for those postings.
As far as the English newspapers are concerned, the bilingual broadcast is to cater more for the Cantonese viewers to enable them to enjoy the Chinese shows in their own dialect. There was no mention of other dialects. Perhaps, it was in the Chinese newspapers which I didn't subscribe. Anyway, I have also emailed to the Federation of Hokkien Associations Malaysia at hoklian@hokkien.net.my urging the Federation to review its language policy and do something to promote the Hokkien language like what the Hakkas are doing in Taiwan. Some of my postings in this forum including the one translated into Mandarin by Kaiah were attached to that email. Hopefully something positive will be done.
Best regards.
As far as the English newspapers are concerned, the bilingual broadcast is to cater more for the Cantonese viewers to enable them to enjoy the Chinese shows in their own dialect. There was no mention of other dialects. Perhaps, it was in the Chinese newspapers which I didn't subscribe. Anyway, I have also emailed to the Federation of Hokkien Associations Malaysia at hoklian@hokkien.net.my urging the Federation to review its language policy and do something to promote the Hokkien language like what the Hakkas are doing in Taiwan. Some of my postings in this forum including the one translated into Mandarin by Kaiah were attached to that email. Hopefully something positive will be done.
Best regards.
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daiwanlang1
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
sorry guys,
quite a while ago somone wrote about minnan speakers in manhattan and flushings. are you sure they weren't hu chiu speakers? (fu zhou) which would be mindong hua? just a suggestion.
p.s.
you might wanna take another trip to new york and try speaking a little ban lam ue and see how far it get's ya
[%sig%]
quite a while ago somone wrote about minnan speakers in manhattan and flushings. are you sure they weren't hu chiu speakers? (fu zhou) which would be mindong hua? just a suggestion.
p.s.
you might wanna take another trip to new york and try speaking a little ban lam ue and see how far it get's ya
[%sig%]
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A-Hiong
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
I was just in NYC couple weeks ago. Its true, there are barely any Minan speaking people in Manhatten, you can find some of these people in restaurants that they opened up in the area but rare to find. There are some Taiwanese style restaurants opening up in Lower Manhatten though. As for Queens, there are quite a significant amount of Taiwanese there. You can here it sometimes on the streets, course its only a person to person basis. People to aren't talking Minan to buy things. There's a Taiwan Center in Flushings too. I don't believe Fuzhounese have been migrating to Flushings as in Lower Manhatten. BTW, I love Flushings, much cleaner and you can get so many good things there! I love especially the Flushings Mall, wow, I could go broke in there. And there's lots of kool KTVs there, you can sing in Minan if you want!
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Guest
Hi,
I'm extremely disappointed that the Taiwanese Government of DPP, supported mainly by the majority Taiwanese Hokkiens, does not seem to be actively promoting the Taiwanese Hokkien culture including the Hokkien language. So far, no Council for Hokkien Culture has been established eventhough the majority Hokkiens also faced suppression of their culture and language during the Japanese and KMT regimes and therefore require the support of the government to promote it. On the contrary, the minority Hakkas and Aborigines have their own Council and even TV stations established by the DPP eventhough a great many of the Hakkas and Aborigines did not vote or support the DPP. As it is, we often read in the news of the various Hakka and Aboriginal cultural festivals being promoted but hardly any on the dominant Taiwanese Hokkien culture and language! I think it's time for the majority Taiwanese Hokkiens to stand up and pressure the Government they had voted in to do something positive to promote the Hokkien culture and language particularly establishing the Council for Hokkien Culture and Hokkien TV station so that government fund would also be made available to promote Hokkien cultural and language activities. I believe the promotion of Hokkien culture and language in Taiwan particularly Hokkien TV programmmes would increase the availability of Hokkien movies and TV serials overseas which in turn would have synergetic effect on the usage of Hokkien language amongst the Hokkien community overseas particularly in South-east Asia where Hokkiens form the largest Chinese dialect group but fast losing the usage of their language. Do we want to wait for the Hokkien culture and language to be admitted to the ICU before something drastic is done about it?
Yours view/comments pls.
Kam sia.
Best regards,
BHYeo
I'm extremely disappointed that the Taiwanese Government of DPP, supported mainly by the majority Taiwanese Hokkiens, does not seem to be actively promoting the Taiwanese Hokkien culture including the Hokkien language. So far, no Council for Hokkien Culture has been established eventhough the majority Hokkiens also faced suppression of their culture and language during the Japanese and KMT regimes and therefore require the support of the government to promote it. On the contrary, the minority Hakkas and Aborigines have their own Council and even TV stations established by the DPP eventhough a great many of the Hakkas and Aborigines did not vote or support the DPP. As it is, we often read in the news of the various Hakka and Aboriginal cultural festivals being promoted but hardly any on the dominant Taiwanese Hokkien culture and language! I think it's time for the majority Taiwanese Hokkiens to stand up and pressure the Government they had voted in to do something positive to promote the Hokkien culture and language particularly establishing the Council for Hokkien Culture and Hokkien TV station so that government fund would also be made available to promote Hokkien cultural and language activities. I believe the promotion of Hokkien culture and language in Taiwan particularly Hokkien TV programmmes would increase the availability of Hokkien movies and TV serials overseas which in turn would have synergetic effect on the usage of Hokkien language amongst the Hokkien community overseas particularly in South-east Asia where Hokkiens form the largest Chinese dialect group but fast losing the usage of their language. Do we want to wait for the Hokkien culture and language to be admitted to the ICU before something drastic is done about it?
Yours view/comments pls.Kam sia.
Best regards,
BHYeo