do you feel like a lesser mortal when you talk to Ang Mo at raffle place

[heartlander]

Are you saying the funny way Caucasians speak Mandarin is acceptable then? Languages (including English and Mandarin) are beautiful creatures, not to be mutilated by people who pick it up only halfway.

Accpetable to whom? To you? Why can't they mutilate it if they want to, as long as people listen to them? Of course it is acceptable, as long as they can be understood. Read my points again. Nobody, not even the Oxford English Dictionary, has the authority to decide what is acceptable for any language. Language is only as "correct" as far as they serve our needs. You'll probably think that today's English is a mutilated version of the English used 100 years ago, much less 500 years ago. I suppose you'll not be happy until we start speaking Shakespearean.

Language evolves, depending on who uses it, and anyone can use any language in any way they like. The need to be understood will take care of itself because (most) people can adjust. Millions of traditionalists like you throughout history, who defend tradition purely for the sake of tradition and nothing else, have unfailingly been drowned out by the natural evolution of culture. Time to grow some self-confidence.

 

[123456787654321]

I certainly don't feel any lesser when speaking to a white caucasian, but I do know for sure that every other non-white Singaporeans feels that way, and that makes me sad.

 

[Ramseth]

Singaporeans speak perfect standard English and Chinese. It's the Brits, Yanks, Maples, Wallabies and Kiwis who speak English with incomprehensible accents, PRCs and ROCs who speak Chinese with irritating accents.

English language is the native language of US and UK. Of course they speak it the right way.

You're very good at pointing out the obvious to those who're oblivious. Thanks on behalf of those Singaporeans who haven't realised that English is the language of England and Chinese is the language of China.

 

[Received_by_Kings]

Re: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent...Eleanor R.

You taught her Hokkien?? :p:p:p

Trying very hard to be funny as usual.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

==

just be confident and be yourself...there is nothing to feel lesser mortal about...Asian are typically more reserved and shy - ang mohs tend to be more vocal. As pointed out above, any uncle in the street can speak more than one language - even not so much educated can speak mandrain, a dialect, malay. Ang moh...the most 2 ..english and french / german / spanish...

You must also remember that chinese and english are like polar opposites of each other in terms of grammar, verbs and so on. While ang moh languages tend to be on the same family tree while some are on the same branch. German and english are pretty similar and spanish, french, portugese are latin languages so it's not as challenging picking up say french when you can speak italian compared to speaking english when you're chinese educated or vice versa.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

You're very good at pointing out the obvious to those who're oblivious. Thanks on behalf of those Singaporeans who haven't realised that English is the language of England and Chinese is the language of China.

Doesn't this carry a trace of irony in it? I'm sure you should know who i'm referring to mr "cheetahs are the world's fastest land animals in the world".

 

[Ramseth]

Doesn't this carry a trace of irony in it? I'm sure you should know who i'm referring to mr "cheetahs are the world's fastest land animals in the world".

That makes me another expert at the obvious, at least those who're still oblivious, doesn't it?

 

[lifeafter41]

Self confidence is the key here. There is no need to feel any lesser.

 

[tonychat]

Why do you feel like a lesser mortal? They are also human. make frens with them.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Self confidence is the key here. There is no need to feel any lesser.

Agree. I suspect for those who feel inferior to the ang mo, it has to be attributed to the socialisation process that chap went thru. Influence from parents' and peers may have contributed to the said process.

These chaps who look-up to the ang mo are usually the ones who look-down on the blacks, American Indians etc.

 

[Lestat]

With regards to the topic header...

No I don't, but I suppose TS has got a bad experience, hence this pointless thread.

 

[Received_by_Kings]

"do you feel like a lesser mortal when you talk to Ang Mo at raffle place
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Manservants like scroobal and those other fugly and insignificant bananas do apparently.