KPN Semarak Uniti vote: Almost 70 percent of the word can speak more than two languages
LANGUAGE is a system of sound signs used to convey the content of the heart, thoughts, ideas and various messages as a medium of communication between people.
In Malaysia, Malay is the national language and English is the second language, but to what extent are the people in this country fluent in both languages?
Are they also fluent in other languages?
Thus, to get the public’s opinion, a vote on Twitter in collaboration with the Ministry of National Unity (KPN) through the KPN Semarak Uniti program was held to see their level of dominance.
Based on the results of the one-day poll, 68.6 percent of respondents said ‘yes’ to the question asked, while 21.1 percent said ‘no’ and 10.4 percent said ‘I only know BM’.
Siapa boleh bertutur lebih daripada dua bahasa (Bahasa Melayu & Bahasa Inggeris)?
Apa lagi bahasa yang anda fasih?#KPNSemarakUniti
— 🇲🇾Astro AWANI🇲🇾 (@501Awani) September 15, 2022
However, some also state that they are able to master foreign languages, that is, languages that are not used by the individual or a country, including dialects other than Malay and English.
Bahasa Tamil Dan Bahasa Malayalam
— Vic (@vickneshkumarr) September 16, 2022
Bahasa melanau (5 dialek berbeza dr daerah lain2)…
— mR.AmZAR (@MuaazRani) September 17, 2022
Bahasa melayu bahasa Inggeris bahasa Turki bahasa Kyrgyz bahasa Rusia sy boleh cakap ☺️
— Иса Ахмад (@IsaAhma33553369) September 18, 2022
Iso Jowo sitik-sitik, thoda-thoda hindi, un poco español, un petite français, muito pouco português. Boleh lah sikit-sikit. https://t.co/AwUFAsjdOa
— kataisrarkhalid (@kataisrarkhalid) September 16, 2022
Malaysia is a multilingual country. In Peninsular Malaysia the main languages are Malay, Chinese (Cantonese, Hokien, Hakka and so on), Tamil and English.
In Sabah and Sarawak, the Malay language is Sarawak, Iban, Melanau, Dusun, Kadazan, Murut, Bajau and so on.
There are also indigenous languages such as Temuan, Mah Meri, Semai, Temiar, Jakun and so on.
There are also regional dialects born from the speech of a region or part of the state that has a special pronunciation plate for that region, such as the dialects of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan.
Among the features that make one regional language or dialect different from another include the pitch of the pronunciation, the style of the song when speaking it and differences in terms of certain words and expressions.
Although each language and dialect has various differences, it continues to be one of the cores of strengthening racial unity in this country.
Different mother tongues should not be a wall that separates identity and the spirit of unity among pluralistic communities in this country.
It is evident when some of us choose to learn a language other than our mother tongue.
In addition, at the university level as well, many language courses are offered to encourage students to master more than one language.
Obviously, the diversity of languages makes our country stand out, and there is no denying that each of us must at least know a word or phrase from a different national language.
It has also actually empowered communication skills and can understand more deeply what the meaning and usage of a word is better.
This is indirectly capable of leaving a variety of positive responses and attractiveness to tourists and the general public of the people in this country who are able to master more than one language.
source – Ehsan A Marisah
