As for the spelling and pronunciation, Malaysians are exposed to both American and British English through the influence of media, such as television channels and radio stations. There are even various English newspapers in Malaysia to choose from. Educational institutes as well differ with the type of English they use, be it American English or British English. The students who stay abroad or study in English countries bring back the language they have learned and spoke there to Malaysia. Thus, spelling and pronunciation difference occurs, sometimes causing confusion. For example, ‘color’ and ‘colour’. ‘Organise’ and ‘organize’. Pronunciation differences are noticeable in words like ‘procedure’ when Malaysians say ‘prou-si-dear’ and Standard
For example, the term ‘hand phone’ which is very commonly used among the Malaysians. This means mobile phone in Standard English. Malaysian English also has its own word phrases for many situations. For example, in a shop when purchasing an item, if they don’t have the particular item that the customer wants, they simply say, “no stock”. Then, when they don’t require someone to do something or if they don’t need someone’s help Malaysians use the term “no need to do this.” “No need to buy that.” “No need lah.” The terms lah, ah, ar, are expressions. It could express many emotions and brings endless meanings in a sentence, in some cases simply acting as a suffix device. The local Malays use these terms commonly while the Indians and Chinese have their own expressive terms such as haiya, aiyo, and so on. Another famous Manglish vocabulary is “where got?” or “mana ada?” in Malay. This term can bring a number of meanings such as answering “No I did not receive any parcel this morning.” Or maybe by asking “I put in the notice last week. Didn’t you read it” Malaysians simply use “where got?” for questions or answers instead of saying “no I didn’t.” or “did you?” There are many word phrases used in Malaysian English that does not exist in Standard or British English which is why makes them both different types of English altogether. A tourist from a different country who speaks Standard English would find Malaysian English a little or a lot different and confusing, especially if they happen to converse with the
Every language has its own way of saying different things and depending on the culture,
Day by day, there are foreigners whose first language may not be English. There can be difficulty in learning a new language in a new land, and it can be hard to adjust to
There are four languages spoken overall there and they are Dutch, English, Spanish, and Papiamento. Papiamento is not a dialect but a language that is evidence to the many influences of older languages and Aruba’s culture and traditions. It has traces of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French and local Indian languages. It is a language that began in Curacao in the 1500’s in an attempt to help slave owners communicate with their slaves. It’s a comparatively easy language to learn with a limited vocabulary and a spicy rhythm that makes it “fun”. The challenging aspect of Papiamento is the importance of proper emphasis on the right syllable. If this is done incorrectly another meaning to the word intended may be interpreted. Some examples of Papiamento are as follows; Very good is Hopi bon, Good Morning is Bon dia, Good Afternoon is Bon tardi, Good Evening is Bon nochi, and Have a good day is Pasa bon dia. Even with a limited knowledge of Spanish and French, one can find similarities and traces of the two within these few phrases .
Malaysia was once a colonized land and known as Malaya back then. Malaysia is one of the Commonwealth countries, which means Malaysia was one of the British colonies.
New languages are always overwhelming.English is difficult language to learn, especially if it isn’t practiced often. The english language includes rules that can be frustrating to get a grip of. Many International students face the fear of not being understood or not pronouncing something correct...
2. While Singlish may be based off British English, most of its influence comes from Chinese and Malay. Words from Hokkien, Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese, and Tamil are often added to everyday conversation. Singlish has many distinct and unique features. One of the first things you notice when speaking to a native Singaporean is the way they drop grammatical endings, linking verbs, tenses, and plurals. For instance, if you wanted to say, “You walk so slowly,” in Singlish, you would say, “You walk so slow.” Or if you wanted to say, “She sho...
Thai, like Chinese and Vietnamese, is a tonal language meaning that the same word can have a completely different meaning depending on its pronunciation.
British English is a very formal form of the English language. The UK practices formal speaking and dictation while the United States of America uses slang and informal English. Our spelling of the same words even differs from each other. In the United
According to “ Language in Society”, An introduction to Sociolinguistics, by Suzanne Romaine, the standard language is normally acquired at home as a mother tongue and continues to be used throughout life. Its main uses are in familial and familiar interactions. In Thailand, the standard language is acquired from home, school and public arenas. Different parts of the country acquire different local languages. However, people have to learn the standard language in order to be able to communicate with the rest of the people from the different parts of the country. It is used in school, governmental office, bank, university, and every public arena. People from Bangkok and its vicinities mostly acquire standard language from home as a mother tongue. Unlike people from other parts of the country who acquire local language as a mother tongue. Both local and standard languages serve the same purpose. They are used in normal conversation, with family member, friend, and other familiar interaction or with the normal domains such as school, governmental office, etc.
The way people communicate varies widely between, and even within, cultures. One aspect of communication style is language usage. Language has always been perceived as a link between people but it can also constitute a barrier. Across cultures, some words and phrases are used in different ways. For example, even in countries that share the English language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe, I'll consider it" to "definitely so," with many shades in between . Furthermore, communication between cultures which do not share the same language is considerably more difficult . Each culture, has its distinct syntax, expressions and structure which causes confusion in intercultural communication. For example , in Asian countries the word “no” is rarely used, so that “yea” can mean “no” or “perhaps”. Therefore, an American traveling to Japan might be considered impolite if he ignores this rule. Furthermore, individuals who are not comfortable with a certain language may not be taken seriously. Such is the case in the classroom, where a student who has a perfect knowledge of the subject in question may have difficulty expressing his idea due to his inability to write properly and therefore he would not receive the grade he truly deserves. Similarly intercultural communication is dominant in the workplace. In the past, many companies and organizations could operate entirely within their country of origin and conduct their activities exclusively in their own native language. But now, due...
Language is a means of human communication whether verbally or nonverbally. In everyday life we use language to express our thoughts, feelings ,attitudes,etc.A great amount of social interactions takes place every day over the telephone ,by online chats, face –to face interaction or at workplaces .We use language of different forms for different functions as in to inform, question , and sometimes to strengthen social relationships or just to keep the social wheels turning smoothly. Moreover, understanding one's own language and even other cultures’ language is important to arrive at a successful and effective communication with others . The study of language can be undertaken in various ways .Semantics and pragmatics are two branches of linguistics which are concerned with the study of meaning.
Luckily, the United Kingdom’s official language is English, although more than 300 languages are spoken throughout the city because of its diverse culture. English is known for having many different dialects therefore, the U.S. and the U.K. may differ slightly (Languages of the United Kingdom). Translations may be needed in some parts of the city, luckily we have technology that can help us with that.
By assuming that students will learn proper communication skills without guidance is a big mistake. Individuals should begin learning basic communication skills at birth and continue learning throughout their educational experience. There are, of course, many types of communication. We use verbal communication, non-verbal communication, written communication and many different forms of. Additionally, communication plays an important role in the process of conveying knowledge as well. Communication is instrumental in education since it helps the instructor and the students to work together with each other. Communication is the most important component of any society. In order, to communicate properly we need correct pronunciation, because pronunciation affects how we understand the meaning of the words. If the sound of a word is different it could lead the listener to believe that the word has a different meaning, and if this happens, it is very obvious that it is a form of improper communication. This may lead to a lot of misinterpretations. To avoid these kinds of problems we need to teach accurate pronunciation. English, in schools, is a very important subject for teaching proper...
Because English is a living language there are frequent changes in the meaning that words carry. These changes can be largely influenced by environment. One of the best examples of this fact is some of the distinct differences between British and American English.
Platt, J. & Weber, H. (1980). English in Singapore and Malaysia: Status, Features, Functions. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press