I am a Hokkien and has been browsing thru this site for hours...well everyone keep one saying Hokkien is endangered..and most mention of hokkien in malaysia as being spoken in penang, klang, malacca..and kedah..perlis.
well, as a chinese from Terengganu, you can also say that people in Kuala terengganu use Hokkien as their daily language. hope this is not something new for my fellow malaysian hokkiens. in fact, almost(not all) in every town in terengganu , the chinese can speak Hokkien. the same pattern goes for Kelantan. I have been visiting kelantan(the capital KOTA BHARU especially) and do not really encounter much problem when i speak to a chinese like the problems i encountered when i spoke to a chinese in KUala lumpur ( I mean chinese in Kuala Lumpur use Cantonese and chinese in Kota bharu use Hokkien). so the east coast people still retain much of hokkien dialect. the dialect in terengganu and kelantan follows the penang hokkien quite similarly( though not exactly but can be very well understood by Penang people). Unfortunately, again, the use of mandarin is becoming more popular. in Kuala Terengganu, only elederly ppl greet you in hokkien. middle-aged people tend to greet u in mandarin first.unless u replied in hokkien, they will continue using mandarin. these people are the ones that fit into the description"hokkien people who does not use hokkien as their first language when they meet people". Only by answering in Hokkien then will they resume using hokkien.The fact that Kuala Terengganu is a Hokkien speaking town is fading away..Mandarin has become quite popular in this town alongside with Cantonese( due to west coast people moving to the town). the next time you hokkien people come to Kuala terengganu, use hokkien..eventhough i have no statistical value with me but i can really say that around 80% of the chinese can speak hokkien in the town.
Retaining Hokkien Language
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yeobh
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Calling all Malaysian Hokkiens. If you really love the Hokkien language and would like to help address the gradual decline of its influence amongst the Malaysian Chinese community, please write in to the following Malaysian newspapers to request RTM (Radio Television Malaysia) which is a government-owned broadcasting station, to screen some Hokkien programmes.
1. The Editor, The Star, Menara Star, No. 15, Jln. 16/11, Section 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia or Email: editor@thestar.com.my
2. The Editor, New Straits Times, 31, Jln. Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or Email: letters@nstp.com.my
Ensure that you include your name, address and phone no. A pseudonym may be included.
For your info, the Ministry of Information in Malaysia is proposing to dub all its Cantonese programmes into Mandarin soon to promote the use of Mandarin as well as to be fair to the majority non-Cantonese viewers particularly the Hokkiens who have been complaining about the increasing concentration of RTM on Cantonese programmes over the TV and on radio. There is not a single Hokkien programme over TV in Malaysia not only the private but also the government-owned stations eventhough Hokkiens form the largest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia outnumbering the Cantonese by 2 to 1. However, RTM is requesting feedback before embarking on the new plan for the Chinese programmes. As expected, many viewers presumably the Cantonese including the Cantonese-based Associations have written in to voice their opposition against such a proposal. Some have even requested for the Cantonese content to be further increased! How inconsiderate. Already too many of Cantonese programmes have popularised that dialect to the extent that many Hokkiens have forsaken their own mother-tongue and preferred to speak Cantonese not only in public but also in the family. If the Cantonese viewers still insist on the Cantonese content, then the majority non-Cantonese viewers particularly the Hokkiens should insist on some Hokkien programmes. Even though the Malaysian Hokkien Association has done nothing to support the request for Hokkien programmes over TV since it is ridiculously promoting Mandarin to the extent of slowly killing of its own language, the Hokkiens at large should not sit back and do nothing.It is very distressing to note that the Hokkien Associations both in Malaysia and Singapore where Hokkiens also constitute the majority Chinese dialect group, have been promoting Mandarin rather than Hokkien unlike all other Chinese dialect associations which promote their own respective dialect. Hope somebody could penetrate the Hokkien Associations to change such a stupid and suicidal stand as NIUC of Singapore who is a regular in this forum put it.Perhaps the Hokkiens worldwide are too docile and non-assertive to further their own language that even in Taiwan where Hokkiens form the overwhelming majority of the population, the language has yet to obtain official status even though there was recently a proposal towards that end which has yet to materialise. In fact, the Hakkas in Taiwan who are in the minority are more assertive to the extent that it is better supported by the Taiwanese government as proven by the recent establishment of the all-Hakka TV whereas the Taiwanese Hokkiens still have no all-Hokkien TV of their own even though Hokkien programmes are shown together with Mandarin programmes over other Taiwanese TV stations.
I have written to the above two newspapers and so far only the following abridged version of my letter appeared in the New Straits Times on 28 July 2003:
"I refer to the letter "RTM needs feedback" (NST, July 24). It is reassuring to note that the Information Ministry will consider the opinions of its viewers before embarking on new plans for programmes. In the past, many TV viewers complained about the total absence of Hokkien programmes, even though Hokkiens constitute the largest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia. But to no avail. RTM instead increased the Cantonese content, not only over the TV, but also on radio in an apparent attempt to compete with TV3, ntv7 and Astro for the limited advertising cake. The so-called popularity of Cantonese programmes should not be the main criterion in RTM's decision to concentrate on this dialect. RTM has a social obligation to screen some Hokkien programmes."
I understand there are Taiwanese Hokkien TV serials which are also quite entertaining. Some have been dubbed into Mandarin and shown over Malaysian and Singaporean TV stations. Is Hokkien that inferior to be accorded such a treatment? Why can't we request for such TV serials to be shown in their original Hokkien language so that the Hokkien viewers can also enjoy such programmes in their own language like the Cantonese who have been enjoying such privilege for so long? Therefore, I appeal to all true Malaysian Hokkiens who would not like to see the fast declining influence of Hokkien language in the Malaysian Chinese community, to write in not only to the Malaysian English newspapers but also the Chinese newspapers requesting RTM to also screen Hokkien programmes if it decides to continue screening Cantonese programmes in addition to Mandarin programmes.
Kam sia
[%sig%]
1. The Editor, The Star, Menara Star, No. 15, Jln. 16/11, Section 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia or Email: editor@thestar.com.my
2. The Editor, New Straits Times, 31, Jln. Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or Email: letters@nstp.com.my
Ensure that you include your name, address and phone no. A pseudonym may be included.
For your info, the Ministry of Information in Malaysia is proposing to dub all its Cantonese programmes into Mandarin soon to promote the use of Mandarin as well as to be fair to the majority non-Cantonese viewers particularly the Hokkiens who have been complaining about the increasing concentration of RTM on Cantonese programmes over the TV and on radio. There is not a single Hokkien programme over TV in Malaysia not only the private but also the government-owned stations eventhough Hokkiens form the largest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia outnumbering the Cantonese by 2 to 1. However, RTM is requesting feedback before embarking on the new plan for the Chinese programmes. As expected, many viewers presumably the Cantonese including the Cantonese-based Associations have written in to voice their opposition against such a proposal. Some have even requested for the Cantonese content to be further increased! How inconsiderate. Already too many of Cantonese programmes have popularised that dialect to the extent that many Hokkiens have forsaken their own mother-tongue and preferred to speak Cantonese not only in public but also in the family. If the Cantonese viewers still insist on the Cantonese content, then the majority non-Cantonese viewers particularly the Hokkiens should insist on some Hokkien programmes. Even though the Malaysian Hokkien Association has done nothing to support the request for Hokkien programmes over TV since it is ridiculously promoting Mandarin to the extent of slowly killing of its own language, the Hokkiens at large should not sit back and do nothing.It is very distressing to note that the Hokkien Associations both in Malaysia and Singapore where Hokkiens also constitute the majority Chinese dialect group, have been promoting Mandarin rather than Hokkien unlike all other Chinese dialect associations which promote their own respective dialect. Hope somebody could penetrate the Hokkien Associations to change such a stupid and suicidal stand as NIUC of Singapore who is a regular in this forum put it.Perhaps the Hokkiens worldwide are too docile and non-assertive to further their own language that even in Taiwan where Hokkiens form the overwhelming majority of the population, the language has yet to obtain official status even though there was recently a proposal towards that end which has yet to materialise. In fact, the Hakkas in Taiwan who are in the minority are more assertive to the extent that it is better supported by the Taiwanese government as proven by the recent establishment of the all-Hakka TV whereas the Taiwanese Hokkiens still have no all-Hokkien TV of their own even though Hokkien programmes are shown together with Mandarin programmes over other Taiwanese TV stations.
I have written to the above two newspapers and so far only the following abridged version of my letter appeared in the New Straits Times on 28 July 2003:
"I refer to the letter "RTM needs feedback" (NST, July 24). It is reassuring to note that the Information Ministry will consider the opinions of its viewers before embarking on new plans for programmes. In the past, many TV viewers complained about the total absence of Hokkien programmes, even though Hokkiens constitute the largest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia. But to no avail. RTM instead increased the Cantonese content, not only over the TV, but also on radio in an apparent attempt to compete with TV3, ntv7 and Astro for the limited advertising cake. The so-called popularity of Cantonese programmes should not be the main criterion in RTM's decision to concentrate on this dialect. RTM has a social obligation to screen some Hokkien programmes."
I understand there are Taiwanese Hokkien TV serials which are also quite entertaining. Some have been dubbed into Mandarin and shown over Malaysian and Singaporean TV stations. Is Hokkien that inferior to be accorded such a treatment? Why can't we request for such TV serials to be shown in their original Hokkien language so that the Hokkien viewers can also enjoy such programmes in their own language like the Cantonese who have been enjoying such privilege for so long? Therefore, I appeal to all true Malaysian Hokkiens who would not like to see the fast declining influence of Hokkien language in the Malaysian Chinese community, to write in not only to the Malaysian English newspapers but also the Chinese newspapers requesting RTM to also screen Hokkien programmes if it decides to continue screening Cantonese programmes in addition to Mandarin programmes.
Kam sia
[%sig%]
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Niuc
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Yeo
I am really touched by your love to our language. Hopefully all Hokkien people can have such love too.
Personally I really hope that Hokkiens, particularly in Malaysia, will appreciate their own heritage more. I do hope that in Malaysia, there will be more and more Hokkien programs along with Mandarin & Cantonese programs, not to destroy each other but to co-exist harmoniously.
You may want to post your touching article to Malaysian Chinese forum:
http://chinese.cari.com.my/forum/forumd ... php?fid=37
[%sig%]
I am really touched by your love to our language. Hopefully all Hokkien people can have such love too.
Personally I really hope that Hokkiens, particularly in Malaysia, will appreciate their own heritage more. I do hope that in Malaysia, there will be more and more Hokkien programs along with Mandarin & Cantonese programs, not to destroy each other but to co-exist harmoniously.
You may want to post your touching article to Malaysian Chinese forum:
http://chinese.cari.com.my/forum/forumd ... php?fid=37
[%sig%]
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yeobh
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Niuc,
I think most Hokkiens in Malaysia don't bother about their language. I believe it is the same in Singapore. They are more concerned about accumulating wealth. That's why they were easily convinced by your ex-PM into gradually discarding their mother-tongue more for economic reason. In Taiwan, the President who now claims himself to be a Hakka like your ex-PM, is manipulating the majority Hokkiens by doing everything he can to promote the Hakka dialect including establishing the Hakka Council and fully financing the Hakka TV station. I think it is time the Hokkiens realise this and should not be easily fooled by those who have self-interest.
It is a good idea to post what I have written in the Malaysian Chinese forum. Unfortunately, I am English-educated and my knowledge of Chinese characters is very elementary. Perhaps you could translate it with appropriate adjustments and post it on my behalf.
I think most Hokkiens in Malaysia don't bother about their language. I believe it is the same in Singapore. They are more concerned about accumulating wealth. That's why they were easily convinced by your ex-PM into gradually discarding their mother-tongue more for economic reason. In Taiwan, the President who now claims himself to be a Hakka like your ex-PM, is manipulating the majority Hokkiens by doing everything he can to promote the Hakka dialect including establishing the Hakka Council and fully financing the Hakka TV station. I think it is time the Hokkiens realise this and should not be easily fooled by those who have self-interest.
It is a good idea to post what I have written in the Malaysian Chinese forum. Unfortunately, I am English-educated and my knowledge of Chinese characters is very elementary. Perhaps you could translate it with appropriate adjustments and post it on my behalf.
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yeobh
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Niuc,
I think most Hokkiens in Malaysia don't bother about their language. I believe it is the same in Singapore. They are more concerned about accumulating wealth. That's why they were easily convinced by your ex-PM into gradually discarding their mother-tongue more for economic reason. In Taiwan, the President who now claims himself to be a Hakka like your ex-PM, is manipulating the majority Hokkiens by doing everything he can to promote the Hakka dialect including establishing the Hakka Council and fully financing the Hakka TV station. I think it is time the Hokkiens realise this and should not be easily fooled by those who have self-interest.
It is a good idea to post what I have written in the Malaysian Chinese forum. Unfortunately, I am English-educated and my knowledge of Chinese characters is very elementary. Perhaps you could translate it with appropriate adjustments and post it on my behalf.
I think most Hokkiens in Malaysia don't bother about their language. I believe it is the same in Singapore. They are more concerned about accumulating wealth. That's why they were easily convinced by your ex-PM into gradually discarding their mother-tongue more for economic reason. In Taiwan, the President who now claims himself to be a Hakka like your ex-PM, is manipulating the majority Hokkiens by doing everything he can to promote the Hakka dialect including establishing the Hakka Council and fully financing the Hakka TV station. I think it is time the Hokkiens realise this and should not be easily fooled by those who have self-interest.
It is a good idea to post what I have written in the Malaysian Chinese forum. Unfortunately, I am English-educated and my knowledge of Chinese characters is very elementary. Perhaps you could translate it with appropriate adjustments and post it on my behalf.
-
yeobh
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Niuc,
I think most Hokkiens in Malaysia don't bother about their language. I believe it is the same in Singapore. They are more concerned about accumulating wealth. That's why they were easily convinced by your ex-PM into gradually discarding their mother-tongue more for economic reason. In Taiwan, the President who now claims himself to be a Hakka like your ex-PM, is manipulating the majority Hokkiens by doing everything he can to promote the Hakka dialect including establishing the Hakka Council and fully financing the Hakka TV station. I think it is time the Hokkiens realise this and should not be easily fooled by those who have self-interest.
It is a good idea to post what I have written in the Malaysian Chinese forum. Unfortunately, I am English-educated and my knowledge of Chinese characters is very elementary. Perhaps you could translate it with appropriate adjustments and post it on my behalf.
[%sig%]
I think most Hokkiens in Malaysia don't bother about their language. I believe it is the same in Singapore. They are more concerned about accumulating wealth. That's why they were easily convinced by your ex-PM into gradually discarding their mother-tongue more for economic reason. In Taiwan, the President who now claims himself to be a Hakka like your ex-PM, is manipulating the majority Hokkiens by doing everything he can to promote the Hakka dialect including establishing the Hakka Council and fully financing the Hakka TV station. I think it is time the Hokkiens realise this and should not be easily fooled by those who have self-interest.
It is a good idea to post what I have written in the Malaysian Chinese forum. Unfortunately, I am English-educated and my knowledge of Chinese characters is very elementary. Perhaps you could translate it with appropriate adjustments and post it on my behalf.
[%sig%]
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Niuc
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Yeo,
I agree with your view that most Hokkiens in Malaysia & Singapore are "ignorant" about their own heritage. They are easily fooled by political propaganda. Many believe that Mandarin is their mother tongue, a language that was foreign to their ancestors.
You can post in English in that forum. I think it's better if you post it directly. You have to sign in before posting and the process is quite simple. Hopefully many Malaysian Hokkiens will respond your call.
FYI, I'm not a Singaporean citizen. Basically I agree with you about situation in Singapore/Taiwan. Nonetheless we hope that all Chinese languages will co-exist harmoniously, right?
[%sig%]
I agree with your view that most Hokkiens in Malaysia & Singapore are "ignorant" about their own heritage. They are easily fooled by political propaganda. Many believe that Mandarin is their mother tongue, a language that was foreign to their ancestors.
You can post in English in that forum. I think it's better if you post it directly. You have to sign in before posting and the process is quite simple. Hopefully many Malaysian Hokkiens will respond your call.
FYI, I'm not a Singaporean citizen. Basically I agree with you about situation in Singapore/Taiwan. Nonetheless we hope that all Chinese languages will co-exist harmoniously, right?
[%sig%]
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chuah
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Dear Yeo
I would rather suggest 2 radio stations to having back minnan drama over their station which they did not continue it any more.radio 988 have 4 cantonese drama on air daily.Why not hookien hueikuan sponsor the show.It is a job opportunities for those who study drama.Those cantonese in radio 988 earn a good living as far as I know =RM2000 per month.
I would rather suggest 2 radio stations to having back minnan drama over their station which they did not continue it any more.radio 988 have 4 cantonese drama on air daily.Why not hookien hueikuan sponsor the show.It is a job opportunities for those who study drama.Those cantonese in radio 988 earn a good living as far as I know =RM2000 per month.
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Niuc
Re: Retaining Hokkien Language
Hi Yeo,
Since I have not heard further from you, I've forwarded your post to the forum http://chinese.cari.com.my/forum/viewth ... d=OtV0nuZG . Hopefully you don't mind.
Chuah, may be you can write to those radio stations. Why Hokkien Hueikuan doesn't sponsor? I really wonder if they do care at all
[%sig%]
Since I have not heard further from you, I've forwarded your post to the forum http://chinese.cari.com.my/forum/viewth ... d=OtV0nuZG . Hopefully you don't mind.
Chuah, may be you can write to those radio stations. Why Hokkien Hueikuan doesn't sponsor? I really wonder if they do care at all
[%sig%]
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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.