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Re: shobana
I'm sure you have the right picture of what I was saying because I do find that the social segregation in Malaysia is more visible than in Indonesia, even these days.. Culture can really go much deeper than what is seen on the surface, I think..
I really hope things will get better in the future, for both our people and culture.. 
Yes, I hope she was well in the rest of her journey that day too.. 
posted by
orcalion
on October 19, 2009 at 8:25 PM
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Orcalion - An absolutely fantastic write. I feel sorry for the lady. Bus drivers and conductors can be heartless and quite crude in their way of acting and thinking..they are often the terrors of the road (aside from the mat rempits). Even here and in the malay culture we are taught how to speak and respect the elderly and the mannerisms involved are totally different. I notice this trend with the asians whereby they respect those of the same mother tongue a lot more than of the other dialects..sometimes it can be quite uncanny as you would feel segregated in that crowd. I hope the lady reached her destination safely.
posted by
shobana
on October 19, 2009 at 7:32 PM
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Re: sam444
It is indeed a very sad thing.. but same as other things in this world, ethnic languages are slowly disappearing, especially when the members of the ethnic group are becoming less in number and less interested in learning and passing down their culture to the younger generations..
Thank you, sam..
posted by
orcalion
on October 19, 2009 at 6:31 PM
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Re: Elinjo
I wish that lady well too.. :-)
About Indonesian language, what you read is true. Even though Indonesian language (as in the official national language) is mostly based on Malay language (the same root shared with Malay language spoken by Malaysian and Singaporean), in the development, the three branches finally went different directions (grammar wise).
I guess I never really gave it much thought before until you mentioned it. The fact that Indonesian language is new and planned made it unlike other national/official languages in the world. Using a language based on agreement (not cultural development), is not something that people from other countries experience. That was why I found your curiousity about what if Esperanto was the international language was very interesting.. 
In most areas, major ethnic languages (Javanese, Sundanese, etc.) are taught as compulsory subject in school. However, the minor ones (Indonesia has over 500 ethnic languages) are slowly dissolving into the major ones, or disappearing along with the extinction of the member of the ethnic groups themselves.. Sad but true..
In my next post I will talk a little about Indonesian language, I would love to know what people think about it.. 
posted by
orcalion
on October 19, 2009 at 6:27 PM
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It would be sad indeed if the language were lost! I like this very much:
roughness does not mean rudeness.. not being afraid does not mean disrespect.. and being strong does not mean being heartless.. sam
posted by
sam444
on October 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM
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What a predicament! I do hope that the old lady did not have too long a walk. I've read a bit about the language situation in Indonesia. If I have understood it correctly the official Indonesian language is planned and relatively new. Sad, if this means that you lose your original languages.
posted by
elinjo
on October 16, 2009 at 4:25 AM
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