Have you learnt Malay?
#1
Have you learnt Malay?
I guess it's not necessary to learn as most folks seem to speak English, but you do come across a number of signboards and road signs in Malay.
On one of my first trips to Penang, and I already knew that Jalan meant street, I was amazed at this incredibly long road in Georgetown called Jalan Sehala, then eventually the ringgit dropped and realised it meant One Way Street
On one of my first trips to Penang, and I already knew that Jalan meant street, I was amazed at this incredibly long road in Georgetown called Jalan Sehala, then eventually the ringgit dropped and realised it meant One Way Street
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: here, there and hopefully in Penang
Posts: 137
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
Hehehe! It sure pays to learn some useful Malay phrases especially if you are living or visiting Malaysia regularly. What I would love to have is a device that can translate Malay phrases into English and vice versa but then again it makes one lazy about learning the language.
#3
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
I think there's quite a lot of online dictionaries, so all you need is one of those handheld devices with internet I suppose.
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Posts: 31
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
#6
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
Yes I don't get it with the 2s and 3s. We find we have to try and change our vowels a little bit sometimes too - change A to E helps. At the foodcourt if we order Anchor beer, quite often they bring up Tiger <go figure> but if we pronounce it as Engker, we get Anchor
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: here, there and hopefully in Penang
Posts: 137
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
I don't seem to have difficulty with my 2s and 3s as well as the Anchor or tiger beer ..............probably because I lived there many, many years ago.
#9
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
First, driving down the expressway to KL, all the road signs are in Malay, so it's a bit handy.
Secondly, and this happened to me today, in shops and other places, I've noticed that shop assistants (who can speak perfect English of course) will quite often huddle together and say something in Malay (presumably not meant for my ears) so I think it will be quite useful for eavesdropping
#10
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
In the old days when I worked in Malaysia, the question was which language to learn. In those days, before English as a language was side lined, most people spoke good English (as they still do in many country towns). But being in business I has to deal with Chinese more often than other ethnic backgrounds. So then the question became, which Chinese dialect should I learn. The answer in my case was Cantonese. So I did learn to count in Cantonese. Very useful as the huddle you speak of in my case as a buyer, was to discuss their buying price and work out how much to sting round eyes. I would take their buy price and add 10% and stick to that. Much screaming, pounding of chests, cries of starving children etc, but I got my price.
Must have hurt as the CNY hampers reduced from 3 or 4 bottles of VSOP and maybe an XO, down to local rocket fuel with brandy essence over the years. The wonder was that they didn't catch on to my being able to count and I only let on at my farewell party....just as well I was on a plane next day.
Never could get on with Malay though, as not only is it still evolving, but construction is akin to French...nuff said. Cantonese however has sentence construction very like English and usually it was a case of direct word translation. The fact that every word has 7 different levels of "song" and non of the meanings are similar in any way. Makes for some terrible gaffs sometimes, but the Chinese always laugh with you and are happy you tried.
Must have hurt as the CNY hampers reduced from 3 or 4 bottles of VSOP and maybe an XO, down to local rocket fuel with brandy essence over the years. The wonder was that they didn't catch on to my being able to count and I only let on at my farewell party....just as well I was on a plane next day.
Never could get on with Malay though, as not only is it still evolving, but construction is akin to French...nuff said. Cantonese however has sentence construction very like English and usually it was a case of direct word translation. The fact that every word has 7 different levels of "song" and non of the meanings are similar in any way. Makes for some terrible gaffs sometimes, but the Chinese always laugh with you and are happy you tried.
#11
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
I dunno, I find Malay sort of logical and very nice not to have to learn new characters Thai was pretty challenging. I have every respect for anyone who has learnt any kind of Chinese dialect. It looks very difficult to me. Did you learn to write the characters?
I know someone here who has learnt a lot of Hokkien and it sounds really impressive to me, but he tells me he hasn't got all the tonal stuff mastered and, as you say, a lot of gaffs. I just don't think I could do tonal.
I know someone here who has learnt a lot of Hokkien and it sounds really impressive to me, but he tells me he hasn't got all the tonal stuff mastered and, as you say, a lot of gaffs. I just don't think I could do tonal.
#12
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
No. Characters for 1,2&3 are ok but gets complicated after that. Thai would be impossible for me. I have sadly forgotten most of my limited "business" Cantonese, so these days its down to ordering a favourite dish or drink. I'm very very slowly getting to understand one or two words of Malay, but its an uphill battle for this old bloke....and all the young ones speak so fast....in any language......snot old age....is it?
#13
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 49
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
No. Characters for 1,2&3 are ok but gets complicated after that. Thai would be impossible for me. I have sadly forgotten most of my limited "business" Cantonese, so these days its down to ordering a favourite dish or drink. I'm very very slowly getting to understand one or two words of Malay, but its an uphill battle for this old bloke....and all the young ones speak so fast....in any language......snot old age....is it?
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Posts: 31
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
I never was good at languages mind...
#15
Re: Have you learnt Malay?
How many languages do you speak, Stranded?