Language

我察覺到我在考車的整個過程都非常緊張，Steve問我何因，我想應該是我還很不習慣單獨與不熟習的美國人接触，我很擔心我聽不明白他们的英語。

据我聽聞，有些國家如法國人、德國人…他們對自己的母語非常執持，只用他們的母語，如你要在那些國家生活，你最好學他們用的語言！

在馬來西亞，雖然學校教育以母語馬來語為主，但大多數都有英文課節，華校有華文課，印度校有淡米爾文課。即使是我們的英語不很好，但遇到外國人用英語跟我們談話，也竟所能用英語回應。馬來西亞的華人，即使是不會華語（不知誰諷刺他們為香蕉人），但没人會介意，都會用他們聽懂的語言交流。

我之前的工作常與中國商家聯系，我想中國商人為了要與外國人做生意，都給自己取一個洋名，如Harold、Carl、Tim。我的朋友中也有一些是以取用洋名稱呼，我問其中一位朋友，“我常不明白為什么很多華人要另取一個洋名，我可問你為什么嗎？” 他說，“主要是可方便社交及職場。”

我在美國認識一些華裔朋友，我介紹自己的名字時，有人問我，“你有英文名嗎？” 我認識一些美國人，我介紹自己的名字時，有人問我，“我稱呼你的名對嗎？”

方便他人顯出中國人或馬來西亞華人的一種美德！但很多族群生長在其它國家的，已漸漸不再保留祖先的語言…

I noticed that I was so nervous when I had my driving test. Steve asked me, “Why?” I think I am still not used to talking alone with American strangers yet; I worry I won’t understand what they say to me.

I’ve heard that some countries like France, Germany… they stick with their language and use only their mother language. So, if you want to live there, then you better learn to use their language!

In Malaysia, Malay is the mother language. Even though the majority of subjects in school are in Malay, they also have one English language subject too. And Chinese schools have Mandarin language subjects; Indian schools have Tamil language subjects. If a foreigner speaks English to us, even if our English is not good, we still try to use English to respond. Even though some Chinese-Malaysians don’t understand Mandarin (don’t know who made the joke, calling them “banana people” – Chinese in yellow skin, but white inside), we don’t care and we use a language which both can understand.

My previous job dealt with vendors in China. I think those Chinese business people liked to have a western name like Harold, Carl, Tim, to introduce themselves to their foreign customers. Some of my friends also have a western name as a nickname. I asked one of them, “I don't understand why many Chinese want to have a western name. May I ask you why?” He replied, “Mostly, it's for the convenience of 'social communication' & 'business'.”

In the USA, I met some Chinese friends and I introduced myself. Someone asked me, “Do you have a western name?” I met some Americans and I introduced myself, and someone asked me, “Am I pronouncing your name right?”

Convenience for others is one of the virtues of Chinese people and Chinese-Malaysians! However, most races born in another country gradually lose their ancestors’ languages…